URI Engineering Professors Receive $4.7 Million Grant for AI-Enabled Power Grid Security

**$4.7 Million Grant Awarded to University of Rhode Island Professors for AI-Enabled Power Grid Security**
KINGSTON, R.I., May 28, 2024 – A team of engineering professors from the University of Rhode Island has received a substantial $4.7 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. The funding is intended to enhance the security and resilience of AI-enabled power grids, bolster workforce development, and ensure the security of manufacturing environments. This ambitious three-year initiative is titled “Advancing Research on Cyber-Physical Security and Resilience: A Multifaceted Approach.”
Leading the project is Yan (Lindsay) Sun, an associate professor at the university, alongside colleagues Hui Lin, Kaushallya (Kay) Adhikari, and Manbir Sodhi. The project will be overseen by the URI Center of Cyber-Physical Intelligence and Security Center, aiming to address the challenges faced by critical cyber-physical systems (CPS) such as power systems, manufacturing, transportation networks, and healthcare infrastructure.
These systems are crucial for modern infrastructure but are vulnerable to disruptions that can cause significant economic losses, psychological impact, and even human casualties. The project’s multifaceted approach includes preventive measures, anomaly detection, mitigation, and self-healing to protect against adversarial threats.
As part of the workforce development effort, the grant will support two online graduate certificate programs set to launch in Spring 2025: the Future Autonomous Systems Certificate and the Industrial 4.0 Certificate. These programs are designed to equip professionals with advanced skills in engineering systems, addressing the needs of an evolving technological landscape.
The research team brings a wealth of expertise to the project. Sun has over a decade of experience in power grid security, Sodhi specializes in manufacturing optimization and supply chain modeling, Lin focuses on intrusion detection systems, and Adhikari brings her knowledge in sensor array design and statistical analysis, particularly in renewable energy generation.
This project not only aims to protect critical infrastructures from cyber threats but also to advance understanding of solar energy generation, contributing to efforts to combat climate change. The team’s comprehensive approach promises to enhance the resilience of cyber-physical systems and foster the next generation of researchers and professionals in this crucial field.