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

\section{Goals and Outcomes}
\dasinline{Research statement is very similar to GO
because that's what I had when I prepared it.
If it's going to be an executive summary, it
should talk more about the other sections rather
than just being a slightly different GO section.}

% GOAL PARAGRAPH
The goal of this research is to develop a methodology for creating autonomous
hybrid control systems with mathematical guarantees of safe and correct
behavior.\splitnote{Clear thesis statement. Gets right to it.}

% INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH Hook
Nuclear power plants require the highest levels of control system reliability,
where failures can result in significant economic losses, service
interruptions, or radiological
release.\splitnote{Stakes established immediately — good hook.}
% Known information
Currently, nuclear plant operations rely on extensively trained human
operators who follow detailed written procedures and strict regulatory
requirements to manage reactor control. These operators make critical
decisions about when to switch between different control modes based on their
interpretation of plant conditions and procedural guidance.
% Gap
\oldt{This reliance on human operators prevents autonomous control
capabilities and creates a fundamental economic challenge for next-generation
reactor designs.} \newt{This reliance on human operators prevents autonomous
control and creates a fundamental economic barrier for next-generation
reactor designs.} Small modular reactors face per-megawatt staffing costs
far exceeding those of conventional plants, threatening their economic
viability.

% Critical Need
\oldt{What is needed is a method to create autonomous control systems that
safely manage complex operational sequences with the same assurance as
human-operated systems, but without constant human supervision.}
\newt{Autonomous control systems must safely manage complex operational
sequences with the same assurance as human-operated systems, but without
constant human supervision.}
% APPROACH PARAGRAPH Solution
To address this need, we will combine formal methods 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
can generate provably correct switching logic from written requirements, but
they cannot handle the continuous dynamics that occur during transitions
between modes. Meanwhile, traditional control theory can verify continuous
behavior but lacks tools for proving correctness of discrete switching
decisions.\splitnote{Excellent setup of the gap — shows why neither approach
alone is sufficient.}
% Hypothesis
By synthesizing discrete mode transitions directly from written operating
procedures and verifying continuous behavior between transitions, we can
create hybrid control systems with end-to-end correctness guarantees. If
existing procedures can be formalized into logical specifications and
continuous dynamics verified against transition requirements, then autonomous
controllers can be built that are provably free from design
defects.\splitnote{Hypothesis is clear and testable.}
% Pay-off
\oldt{This approach will enable autonomous control in nuclear power plants
while maintaining the high safety standards required by the industry.

% Qualifications
This work is conducted within the University of Pittsburgh Cyber Energy
Center, which provides access to industry collaboration and Emerson control
hardware, ensuring that developed solutions align with practical
implementation requirements.} \newt{This approach will enable autonomous
control in nuclear power plants while maintaining the high safety standards
required by the industry. The University of Pittsburgh Cyber Energy Center's
partnership with Emerson provides access to industry-standard control
hardware, ensuring that developed solutions align with practical
implementation requirements from the outset.}

% OUTCOMES PARAGRAPHS
If this research is successful, we will be able to do the following:

\begin{enumerate}

  % OUTCOME 1 Title
  \item \textbf{Translate written procedures into verified control logic.}
    % Strategy
    We will develop a methodology for converting existing written operating
    procedures into formal specifications that can be automatically
    synthesized into discrete control logic. This process will use structured
    intermediate representations to bridge natural language procedures and
    mathematical logic.
    % Outcome
    \oldt{Control system engineers will generate verified mode-switching
    controllers directly from regulatory procedures without formal methods
    expertise, lowering the barrier to high-assurance control systems.}
    \newt{This will lower the barrier to high-assurance control systems by
    generating verified mode-switching controllers directly from regulatory
    procedures.}\dasinline{Same comment as in executive summary. Might not be
    true and is not the point.}

    % OUTCOME 2 Title
  \item \textbf{Verify continuous control behavior across mode transitions.}
    % Strategy
    We will establish methods for analyzing continuous control modes to ensure
    they satisfy discrete transition requirements. Using classical control
    theory for linear systems and reachability analysis for nonlinear
    dynamics, we will verify that each continuous mode safely reaches its
    intended transitions.
    % Outcome
    Engineers will design continuous controllers using standard practices
    while iterating to ensure broader system correctness, proving that mode
    transitions occur safely and at the correct times.

    % OUTCOME 3  Title
  \item \textbf{Demonstrate autonomous reactor startup control with safety
    guarantees.}
    % Strategy
    We will apply this methodology to develop an autonomous controller for
    nuclear reactor startup procedures, implementing it on a small modular
    reactor simulation using industry-standard control hardware. This
    demonstration will prove correctness across multiple coordinated control
    modes from cold shutdown through criticality to power
    operation.\splitnote{``cold shutdown through criticality to power
    operation'' — concrete and impressive scope.}
    % Outcome
    We will demonstrate that autonomous hybrid control can be realized in the
    nuclear industry with current equipment, establishing a path toward
    reduced operator staffing while maintaining safety.

\end{enumerate}

% IMPACT PARAGRAPH Innovation
The innovation in this work is unifying discrete synthesis with continuous
verification to enable end-to-end correctness guarantees for hybrid
systems.\splitnote{Clear ``what's new'' statement.}
% Outcome Impact
If successful, control engineers will create autonomous controllers from
existing procedures with mathematical proof of correct behavior.
High-assurance autonomous control will become practical for safety-critical
applications.
% Impact/Pay-off
\oldt{This capability is essential for the economic viability of
next-generation nuclear power. Small modular reactors offer a promising
solution to growing energy demands, but their success depends on reducing
per-megawatt operating costs through increased autonomy. This research will
provide the tools to achieve that autonomy while maintaining the exceptional
safety record the nuclear industry requires.} \newt{This research will
provide the tools to achieve that autonomy while maintaining the exceptional
safety record the nuclear industry
requires.}\dasinline{This paragraph is literally the same as the rest of the
GO. Does not belong here and feels very redundant.}