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Brian T. Patterson Keynote Speaker

Brian T. Patterson
Chairman, EMerge Alliance
General Manager of Business Development
Building Products Division, Armstrong World Industries

Topic:
Applying Artificial Intelligence to the control of Microgrids used in Commercial Building Environments

Abstract:
This presentation will report on the unique use of intelligent DC Microgrids to efficiently combine and distribute utility supplied electricity with locally generated electricity from alternate and renewable sources to power electrical and electronic devices commonly used in commercial buildings. It will also review the issues associated with the significantly increasing complexity of controls used in today's buildings. The presentation will go on to hypothesize the application of Artificial Intelligence in the combination of these system domains and explore the potential benefits and issues associated with the combined technologies in tomorrow's "Smart Buildings." Direct comparisons will be made to application of AI in robotics.

Biography:
Brian Patterson is the Chairman of the EMerge Alliance , a 501c non-profit corporation established to create standards and promote the rapid adoption of safe, low-voltage DC power distribution and use in commercial buildings. EMerge is a member funded organization focused on developing open standards that integrate infrastructures, power, controls and a wide variety of devices in a common hybrid AC-DC microgrid platform. He is also General Manager of Business Development for the Building Products Division of Armstrong World Industries, one of the original founders of the Alliance.

Throughout his career, Brian has been deeply involved in the electronics industry, managing product engineering, sales, marketing, licensing & operations in both domestic and global assignments. Before joining Armstrong in 2003, he held senior positions with Kollmorgen Corporation , AMP Incorporated, and Tyco International. He has several patents and patents pending in the fields of fiber optics and power/signal technology. He is a frequent speaker in industry forum and has held guest professorships in business management at Long Island University and Susquehanna University.

In his role at Armstrong, Brian leads the business development effort that brings Armstrong together with like-minded partners in new collaborations aimed at improving commercial buildings, such as his work with the EMerge Alliance.