Optimizing power allocation to electrical appliances with an algorithm for the knapsack problem

This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of a system for allocating power efficiently to appliances utilizing an algorithm for the knapsack problem. The algorithm is implemented on a smart outlet, which is able to measure power consumption of connected appliances and control appliances based on various policies. Keeping total power consumption of appliances under a threshold with maximizing total benefit is regarded as the knapsack problem, a well-known optimization problem. The authors have implemented a dynamic-programming based algorithm for the knapsack problem on the smart outlet, and have evaluated computational time and memory that are needed for computing optimal allocation and completing control of relays.