Thesis/1-goals-and-outcomes/research_statement_v1.tex

% GOAL PARAGRAPH
This research develops a methodology for creating autonomous control systems
with event-driven control laws that guarantee safe and correct behavior.

% INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH Hook
Nuclear power relies on extensively trained operators who follow detailed
written procedures to manage reactor control. Operators interpret plant
conditions and make critical decisions about when to switch between control
objectives. 
% Gap
This reliance on human operators creates an economic challenge for
next-generation nuclear power plants. Small modular reactors face per-megawatt
staffing costs that significantly exceed those of conventional plants. These
economic constraints demand autonomous control systems that safely manage
complex operational sequences with the same assurance as human-operated systems,
but without constant supervision.

% APPROACH PARAGRAPH Solution
We will combine formal methods from computer science with control theory to
build hybrid control systems that are correct by construction. 
% Rationale
Hybrid systems use discrete logic to switch between continuous control modes,
mirroring how operators change control strategies. Existing formal methods
generate provably correct switching logic but cannot handle continuous dynamics
during transitions. Traditional control theory verifies continuous behavior but
lacks tools for proving discrete switching correctness. 
% Hypothesis and Technical Approach
A three-stage methodology will bridge this gap. First, we translate written
operating procedures into temporal logic specifications using NASA's Formal
Requirements Elicitation Tool (FRET). FRET structures requirements into scope,
condition, component, timing, and response elements, enabling realizability
checking that identifies conflicts and ambiguities before implementation.
Second, we synthesize discrete mode switching logic using reactive synthesis to
generate deterministic automata that are provably correct by construction.
Third, we develop continuous controllers for each discrete mode using standard
control theory and reachability analysis. We classify continuous modes based on
their transition objectives, then employ assume-guarantee contracts and barrier
certificates to prove that mode transitions occur safely and as the
deterministic automata specify. Local verification of continuous modes becomes
possible without global trajectory analysis across the entire hybrid system. An
Emerson Ovation control system will demonstrate this methodology. 
% Pay-off
This approach demonstrates that autonomous control can manage complex nuclear
power operations while maintaining safety guarantees.

% OUTCOMES PARAGRAPHS
If this research is successful, we will be able to do the following:
\begin{enumerate}
  % OUTCOME 1 Title
  \item \textit{Synthesize written procedures into verified control logic.} 
    % Strategy
    We will develop a methodology for converting written operating procedures
    into formal specifications. Reactive synthesis tools will then generate
    discrete control logic from these specifications.
    % Outcome
    Control engineers will generate mode-switching controllers from regulatory
    procedures with minimal formal methods expertise, reducing barriers to
    high-assurance control systems.

    % OUTCOME 2 Title
  \item \textit{Verify continuous control behavior across mode transitions.}
    % Strategy
    Reachability analysis will ensure continuous control modes satisfy discrete
    transition requirements. 
    % Outcome
    Engineers will design continuous controllers using standard practices while
    ensuring system correctness, proving that mode transitions occur safely at
    the right times.

    % OUTCOME 3  Title
  \item \textit{Demonstrate autonomous reactor startup control with safety
    guarantees.}
    % Strategy
    A small modular reactor simulation using industry-standard control hardware
    will implement this methodology.
    % Outcome
    Control engineers will implement high-assurance autonomous controls on
    industrial platforms they already use, enabling autonomy without retraining
    costs or developing new equipment.

\end{enumerate}