ARIA for Energy & Infrastructure

Autonomy & Control Model

AI does not execute actions by default. AriaOS operates in Human-In-The-Loop (HITL) mode unless a constrained autonomy profile is explicitly enabled.

Human approval is required for all actions unless constrained autonomy is explicitly configured
Autonomous execution is profile-gated, policy-enforced, and continuously audit-verified
See Autonomy Model for execution mode details

What Breaks Under Stress

Grid operators lose visibility into generation, transmission, and distribution during cyberattacks, natural disasters, or physical sabotage. SCADA systems rely on constant network connectivity to supervisory control centers. When that link is severed—by jamming, severed fiber, or targeted attack—operators lose real-time telemetry, alarm escalation, and remote control authority.

Load balancing decisions stall. Cascading failures propagate unchecked. Field crews operate without central coordination. Post-incident forensics reveal fragmented logs, missing timestamps, and unverifiable operator actions.

Why Traditional Architectures Fail Here

SCADA systems assume persistent connectivity to control centers
Cloud-based analytics and predictive maintenance tools go offline during network disruption
Operators lose alarm aggregation, trending, and decision support when WAN links fail
Manual failover procedures are slow, error-prone, and undocumented
Audit logs are incomplete or stored on compromised systems
Coordination between regional operators requires external communication infrastructure

What ARIA Enforces Instead

Offline-First Execution

Grid oversight continues at the substation and field level without WAN connectivity. AI advisory operates on local telemetry. No cloud dependencies.

Profile-Gated Control

Operator authority is bound to role and clearance level. Emergency overrides require justification and are logged immutably.

Immutable Audit

Every control action, alarm acknowledgment, and override is recorded with synchronized timestamps. Logs cannot be altered retroactively.

AI Advisory (Intent, Not Autonomy)

AI suggests load-shedding strategies, fault isolation workflows, and restoration sequences. Operators authorize execution. No black-box automation.

How ARIA Fits

ARIA sits between SCADA control systems and field devices (RTUs, IEDs, smart meters). It does not replace existing grid management platforms. It coordinates alarm processing, operator decision support, and automated response workflows when the control center is unreachable.

Deployment Notes

No replacement of existing SCADA, EMS, or DMS infrastructure
Works with or without WAN connectivity to regional control centers
Synchronizes state when connectivity is restored
Integrates with IEC 61850, DNP3, Modbus, and OPC UA protocols

Operational Characteristics

No-login operation after setup: operators authenticated once per shift
Deterministic behavior under degradation: no heuristic fallbacks or probabilistic guesses
Explainability by design: AI recommendations include reasoning traces and uncertainty bounds
Offline alarm aggregation and prioritization without central servers
State synchronization resumes automatically when WAN connectivity returns

Relevant ARIA Subsystems

Control Layer

Weighted voting governance for emergency overrides and load-shedding authorization.

Event Ledger

Immutable log of all control actions, alarms, and operator decisions with tamper-evident timestamps.

AI Advisory

Fault detection, isolation strategies, and restoration sequencing with explainable recommendations.

Profile System

Role-based access for field operators, substation engineers, and regional coordinators.

Edge Control

Coordination of distributed SCADA endpoints, RTUs, and field devices across substations.

Who This Is Built For

Grid Operators

Personnel managing generation, transmission, and distribution during normal and contingency operations.

Regulators

Officials requiring verifiable audit trails for NERC CIP compliance and post-incident review.

Auditors

Teams validating control actions, operator decisions, and emergency override justifications.

System Engineers

Integration teams connecting ARIA to SCADA, EMS, DMS, and field communication networks.

Energy Infrastructure Research

Current work focuses on validating grid oversight behavior under sustained network degradation, SCADA isolation, and alarm continuity during WAN link failures.

This research examines how load-shedding decisions, fault isolation workflows, and restoration sequences behave when cloud analytics platforms and central control systems are unreachable. Learn more about ongoing research →