February 27, 2025, Mustafa Yasin Kara, Torc Robotics

2:15p.m.
130 Data and Decision Sciences Building

"Development and Application of Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization to Assess the Impact of Energy Storage on Naval Ship Mission Effectiveness, System Vulnerability, and Recoverability"

Abstract:  This presentation explores the development and application of a naval ship distributed system architecture framework, incorporating Architecture Flow Optimization (AFO), Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization (DAFO), and an Energy Storage System (ESS) model within Concept & Requirements Exploration (C&RE). The research aims to assess ESS capacity, charging, and discharging capabilities in a complex naval ship system of systems, minimizing vulnerability while maximizing recoverability and mission effectiveness.

The architecture framework integrates Ship Behavior Interaction Models (SBIMs), including the Warfighting Model (WM), Ship Operational Model (OM), Capability Model (CM), and Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization (DAFO). These models establish a critical interface between logical, physical, and operational architectures, enabling quantitative assessment of warfighting and propulsion capabilities through system measures of performance at specific capability nodes. This decomposition simplifies the Mission, Power, and Energy System (MPES) design process for early-stage concept exploration.

AFO and DAFO are network-based, linear programming optimization methods used to design and analyze MPESs at sufficient detail to understand system energy flow, define MPES architecture and sizing, model operational scenarios, and assess system vulnerability and effectiveness with ESS integration. AFO incorporates system topologies, energy coefficient component models, preliminary arrangements, and (nominal and damaged) steady-state scenarios to minimize the energy flow cost required to meet operational demands and constraints. DAFO extends AFO by incorporating propulsion and ESS charging capabilities while optimizing effectiveness dynamically across operational timesteps.

Furthermore, DAFO integrates with warfighting, operational, and capability models to quantify task performance enabled by system capabilities. This research introduces design tools to implement these methodologies, including ship synthesis models, hull form exploration, MPES explorations, and evaluations of objective attribute metrics such as cost, effectiveness, and risk through Design of Experiments (DOE) and Response Surface Models (RSM). The study highlights the application of these methodologies to evaluate the benefits of ESS in naval ship architectures.

Bio:  Dr. Mustafa Y. Kara is a Naval Architect, Marine Engineer and Systems Engineer specializing in ship design, systems engineering, and autonomous vehicle development. He holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace and Ocean Engineering from Virginia Tech, an S.M. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from MIT, and a B.S. in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from the Turkish Naval Academy. His research focuses on naval ship vulnerability, survivability, and mission power and energy systems (MPES) optimization.

Dr. Kara is currently a Release Manager at Torc Robotics, overseeing software, hardware, and firmware releases for autonomous vehicle systems. Previously, he served as a Senior Systems Engineer and Autonomous Vehicle Safety Officer, leading test strategies, verification frameworks, and safety protocols.

As a part-time Postdoctoral Researcher at Virginia Tech, he conducts sponsored research in naval ship design tools while mentoring graduate and undergraduate students. His prior more than 18 years of experience includes managing multi-billion-dollar naval projects, including the New Type Submarine Project for the Turkish Navy, and leading ship design teams at Euro Marine Shipyards.

Dr. Kara is a recipient of several prestigious awards, including the ASNE 2022 "Jimmie" Hamilton Award, the SNAME 2021 Walter M. & Doris H. Maclean Scholarship, and the Virginia Tech 2021 Pratt Fellowship. He is an active member of ASME, ASNE, SNAME, and IMAREST and serves as an MIT Educational Counselor.