ABSTRACT:
This work presents a real-time cyber-physical testbed developed to study the impact of cyberattacks on active distribution systems. The testbed integrates a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) for distribution system simulation and a Common Open Research Emulator (CORE) for communication network emulation, enabling synchronized simulation of both physical and cyber subsystems in real time. A realistic distribution feeder was modeled using the SMART-DS dataset, which includes residential and commercial loads, photovoltaic systems, electric vehicle chargers, and advanced metering infrastructure.
The RTDS simulation was implemented using RSCAD software and executed on a NovaCor chassis with GTNETx2 interface cards for high-fidelity real-time communication. Communication between physical and cyber layers is conducted via TCP/IP sockets using the GTNETx2 module, supporting flexible configuration of bidirectional data exchange across DERs, aggregators, and utility.
The cyber layer, emulated in CORE using containerized nodes, models a realistic AMI network based on RF mesh architecture and includes smart meters, routers, data collectors, and SCADA/DSO entities. The emulation supports real-time data flow through TAP interfaces and Ethernet bridging, enabling direct interaction with RTDS components.
The testbed allows comprehensive experimentation with real-time scenarios and communication protocols, offering a robust foundation for future studies on grid-edge intelligence, distributed optimization, and cybersecurity.
Presented by Karen Butler-Purry, Texas A&M University