What is Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a computer-based approaches to activities that normally require intelligence (translating data and information into knowledge) to perform effectively. Machine Learning is a form of artificial intelligence in which computer algorithms learn from data to form predictive models.

AI and ML are helping INL scientists pursue advances in engineering and energy research. Computers that mimic cognitive functions and apply complex algorithms to analyze data can help researchers solve a variety of technical issues. This new approach aids in everything from materials design for advanced reactors to making nuclear power plant control rooms more usable and efficient.

Our vision is to use AI and ML to glean new research insights and enhance INL’s core research capabilities.

INL’s vision is to change the world’s energy future and secure our nation’s critical infrastructure. To support INL’s research missions, we have five goals.

1. Methods: Use AI/ML to bridge existing research gaps.
2. Data: Use INL’s unique data sources and expertise to leverage AI/ML for new insights.
3. Tools: Innovate an agile AI/ML computing infrastructure.
4. People: Develop and mature researchers’ AI/ML capabilities.
5. Security: Ensure trustworthy AI/ML that is explainable to end users and decision makers.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning support a variety of research areas and useful applications:

NUCLEAR ENERGY:

• Detecting process anomalies in a nuclear power plant before they develop into significant events.
• Automating manual activities of a nuclear power plant operations by applying natural language processing methods to documents that are generated daily.
• Applying classical and machine learning-based image processing methods to automate manual and visual tasks in a plant.
• Creating risk-informed predictive maintenance strategies for nuclear power plant, based on predictive models developed to monitor an identified plant asset.
• Developing intelligent operator aids to enhance the operator’s ability to monitor nuclear plant systems and components.
• Utilizing virtual operators to create a simulation that accounts for a variety of performance-affecting human factors.

ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING:

• Leveraging natural language processing for information extraction from unstructured scientific data
• Ensuring critical infrastructure cybersecurity through advanced threat detection
• Utilizing the power of High Performance Computing systems to get new insights from complex data
• Connecting experienced data scientists with domain scientists for collaborative research
• Visualizing AI/ML analysis and results to provide new insights.

NATIONAL SECURITY:

• Identify anomalous network traffic, alert operators and deploy virtual decoys to slow or halt hacking attempts.  Autonomic Intelligent Cyber Sensor is an INL artificial intelligence breakthrough that can protect the nation’s critical infrastructure from devastating cyberattack. The sensor works autonomously to give industries the power to quickly identify and divert hackers, using machine learning to identify and map industrial control systems.
• Detecting malicious traffic on 4G/5G cellular networks
• Classifying radio frequency signals using artificial neural networks.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

• Identify patterns in nonlinear data to understand the conditions that will result in future emergencies, such as earthquakes or electrical grid failures.

TRANSPORTATION:

• Improving air traffic control efficiency and relieving traffic control on busy city streets.

Digital Innovation Center of Excellence

The Digital Innovation Center of Excellence at INL was created to support the development of advanced reactors through digital engineering. Developed in part to predict reactor performance for the Versatile Test Reactor, the Digital Innovation Center of Excellence is organized into eight key pillars:

• Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence
• Operational Artificial Intelligence
• Practice and Culture
• Digital Twin
• Digital Thread
• Decision Sciences and Visualization
• Cyber and Data Resilience
• Computing Platforms

For more information on DICE, click here.

Nuclear Safety and Regulatory Research Division

INL’s Nuclear Safety and Regulatory Research Division supports a wide variety of activities. In particular, it ensures the nation’s safe, competitive and sustainable use of engineered systems in many domains by applying INL capabilities to impactful issues in risk, reliability and operational performance.

Our recent AI/ML projects include:

• Advanced Remote Monitoring for Operations Readiness
• Digital Architecture to Support an Automated Plant
• Automation of the Work Process
• Risk-Informed Predictive Maintenance Strategy
• Computerized Operator Support System
• Dynamic Human Reliability Analysis