An Adaptive ML Framework for Power Converter Monitoring via Federated Transfer Learning

-- This study explores alternative framework configuration s for adapting thermal machine learning (ML) models for power converters b y combining transfer learning (TL) and federated learning (FL) in a piecewise manner . This approach inherently addresses challenges such as varying operating conditions, data sharing limitations, and security implications. The framework starts with a base model that is incrementally adapted by multiple clients via adapting three state - of - the - art domain adaptation techniques: Fine - tuning, Transfer Component Analysis (TCA), and Deep Domain Adaptation (DDA). The Flower framework is employed for FL, using Federated Averaging for aggregation. Validation with field data demonstrates that fine - tuning offers a straightforward TL approach with high accuracy, making it suitable for practical applications. Benchmarking results reveal a comprehensive comparison of thes e methods, showcasing their respective strengths and weaknesses when applied in different scenarios. L ocally hosted FL enhances performance when data aggregation is not feasible, while cloud - based FL becomes more practical with a significant increase in the number of clients, addressing scalability and connectivity challenges.