Enhancing anomaly detection in distributed power systems using autoencoder-based federated learning

PLoS One. 2023 Aug 18;18(8):e0290337. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290337. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The growing use of Internet-of-Things devices in electric power systems has resulted in increased complexity and flexibility, making monitoring power usage critical for effective system maintenance and detecting abnormal behavior. However, traditional anomalous power consumption detection methods struggle to handle the vast amounts of data generated by these devices. While deep learning and machine learning are effective in anomaly detection, they require significant amounts of training data collected on centralized servers. This centralized approach results in high response time delays and data leakage problems. To address these challenges, we propose an Autoencoder-based Federated Learning method that combines the AutoEncoder and Federated Learning networks to develop a high-accuracy algorithm for identifying anomalies of power consumption data in distributed power systems. The proposed method allows for decentralized training of anomaly detection models among IoT devices, reducing response time and eventually solving data leakage issues. Our experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the FLAE method in detecting anomalies without needing data transferring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Computer Communication Networks*
  • Electricity
  • Internet*
  • Machine Learning

Grants and funding

This work was conducted under the framework of the research and development program of the Korea Institute of Energy Research (C1-2418). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.