2020 PES GM 8/6 Panel Session: AI and VR applications for Power and Energy Systems Research and Education

Power Engineering Education is changing its color rapidly. In the last decade, the focus was mainly on Renewable Energy, their grid connections, and micro-grid, presently all are towards the smart-grid where computer and
communication technologies are blended well with power technologies. Around the World, power engineering Professors are adapting to this change and creating new generation of power systems education. Two main technologies which will be dominating the new power engineering education are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR). The AI applications can greatly improve the efficiency of the power system, reduce the input of human and material resources, and play an important role in power system operation, maintenance, security, and reliability. With the deepening of research, artificial intelligence will become more and more mature, and easier to operate, to better solve the problems in power systems. On the other hand, the VR technology mainly implemented around computers, such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, multimedia technology, digital image processing, man-machine interface technology, sensor technology, etc., and can be used effectively in power engineering education. Educators and researchers have started developing virtual experimental models for power plants and the smart grid. Considering these, this panel is dedicated to discussing recent successes and future needs/trends of AI and VR facilities in advancing power engineering education across the World.