PACMAN AI framework for controlling fusion systems safely makes key decisions in milliseconds
Inside some fusion energy systems, particles hotter than the core of the sun can become unruly in a few thousandths of a second, far faster than any human operator can react.
Inside some fusion energy systems, particles hotter than the core of the sun can become unruly in a few thousandths of a second, far faster than any human operator can react.
The short version
- A new software framework developed by researchers at the U.S.
- Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and Princeton University hands those split-second decisions to artificial intelligence (AI), while keeping the machine safe and humans firmly in charge of the goals.
- This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies .
What happened
Known as PACMAN (a novel abbreviation for Prediction And Control using MAchiNe learning), the AI framework was successfully tested on a real fusion system in five experiments. The framework's design and first results are detailed in a new paper in the journal Nuclear Fusion .
Why it matters
The sophisticated computer programs used to simulate the behavior of a plasma can take days or months to run.
Summary by Nerd News Network. Read the full article at Phys.org via the links above and below.