Peer-to-peer modular automation scheme

1 . An automation controller comprising:

an electronic processor;

a memory;

a first peer messaging interface configured to connect to a first peer device;

a second peer messaging interface configured to connect to a second peer device; and,

an input/output interface configured to connect to an interrupter;

wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive, via the input/output interface, an interrupter status signal;

transmit, via the first or second peer messaging interface, a message to a peer device based on the interrupter status signal;

receive, via the first or second peer messaging interface, a message from the peer device indicating a status of a peer interrupter;

update an interrupter status variable in memory based on the status of the peer interrupter and the interrupter status signal; and,

transmit a signal, via the input/output interface, to open or close the interrupter based on the updated interrupter status variable.

2 . The automation controller of claim 1 , wherein the message from the peer device includes a loss of voltage message.

3 . The automation controller of claim 1 , wherein the message from the peer device includes a fault pickup indication message.

4 . The automation controller of claim 1 , wherein the memory further includes sensor data.

5 . The automation controller of claim 4 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to transmit a signal, via the input/output interface, to open or close the interrupter based on the sensor data.

6 . The automation controller of claim 1 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to message peers based on the updated interrupter status variable.

7 . The automation controller of claim 6 , wherein the interrupter status variable is updated based on one of:

a fault pickup indicator, indicating that the interrupter is experiencing a fault current;

a loss of voltage indicator, indicating that the interrupter is experiencing a loss of voltage;

a loss of voltage isolation indicator, indicating whether the interrupter was opened to isolate a loss of voltage;

a fault isolation indicator, indicating whether the interrupter was opened to isolate a faulted circuit segment;

a fault target, indicating that the interrupter was opened to interrupt a fault current;

a fault lockout indicator, indicating that the interrupter is in a lockout state;

a closed indicator, indicating that the interrupter is closed; and,

a segmentation indicator, indicating that the automation controller received a segmentation message from a peer device.

8 . An interrupter comprising:

a switch; and,

an automation controller including:

an electronic processor;

a memory;

a first peer messaging interface configured to connect to a first peer device; and,

a second peer messaging interface configured to connect to a second peer device;

wherein the electronic processor is configured to:

receive an interrupter status signal from the switch;

transmit, via the first or second peer messaging interface, a message to a peer device based on the interrupter status signal;

receive, via the first or second peer messaging interface, a message from the peer device indicating a status of a peer interrupter;

update an interrupter status variable in memory based on the status of the peer interrupter and the interrupter status signal; and,

open or close the switch based on the updated interrupter status variable.

9 . The interrupter of claim 8 , wherein the message from the peer device includes a loss of voltage message.

10 . The interrupter of claim 8 , wherein the message from the peer device includes a fault pickup indication message.

11 . The interrupter of claim 8 , wherein the memory further includes sensor data.

12 . The interrupter of claim 11 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to transmit a signal, to the switch, to open or close the switch based on the sensor data.

13 . The interrupter of claim 8 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to message peers based on the updated interrupter status variable.

14 . The interrupter of claim 13 , wherein the interrupter status variable is updated based on one of:

a fault pickup indicator, indicating that the interrupter is experiencing a fault current;

a loss of voltage indicator, indicating that the interrupter is experiencing a loss of voltage;

a loss of voltage isolation indicator, indicating whether the interrupter was opened to isolate a loss of voltage;

a fault isolation indicator, indicating whether the interrupter was opened to isolate a faulted circuit segment;

a fault target, indicating that the interrupter was opened to interrupt a fault current;

a fault lockout indicator, indicating that the interrupter is in a lockout state;

a closed indicator, indicating that the interrupter is closed; and,

a segmentation indicator, indicating that the automation controller received a segmentation message from a peer device.

15 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed by an electronic processor of an automation controller in a power distribution system cause the electronic processor to:

receive, via an input/output interface of the automation controller, an interrupter status signal;

transmit, via a first peer messaging interface or a second peer messaging interface of the automation controller, a message to a peer device in the power distribution system based on the interrupter status signal;

receive, via a first or second peer messaging interface of the automation controller, a message from the peer device indicating a status of a peer interrupter;

update an interrupter status variable in a memory of the automation controller based on the status of the peer interrupter and the interrupter status signal; and,

transmit a signal, via the input/output interface of the automation controller, to open or close the interrupter based on the updated interrupter status variable.

16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the message from the peer device includes a loss of voltage message.

17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the message from the peer device includes a fault pickup indication message.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to message peers based on the updated interrupter status variable.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the memory further includes sensor data.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the electronic processor is further configured to transmit a signal, via the input/output interface, to open or close the interrupter based on the sensor data.