feat(mgc): rendezvous lock + emergency bypass (no re-plan mid-rendezvous)

Once a rendezvous plan is committed it now runs to completion untouched: an
ordinary new setpoint arriving while the group is 'working' is remembered
(latest wins) and dispatched sequentially when the group reaches 'ready',
instead of aborting + re-planning. A re-plan mid-flight dropped the in-flight
schedule and re-deferred a pump that was mid-sequence, parking starting pumps
at minimum flow.

Only an EMERGENCY pre-empts the lock: a stop (≤0) or a pressure excursion.
_isUrgentDemand (which pre-empted on any large step) is replaced by
_isEmergencyDemand; the large-step pre-emption is gone — large operator steps
now defer like any other setpoint. _pressureEmergency() reads
planner.emergencyPressurePa and is INERT until that threshold is configured;
handlePressureChange fires a latched bypass dispatch when it breaches.

Verified live on the E2E Isolated MGC rig: a 1→2 pump staging transition ramps
the added pump straight through (no wait-at-minimum, no start-then-stop) and the
group total climbs monotonically. (The Pump-tab node's hunting is a separate
demand-feedback-loop issue in that flow's wiring, not the rendezvous.)

Integration tests now settle to 'ready' between demands (waitReady) since the
lock defers setpoints arriving mid-move.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

src/specificClass.js

@@ -78,11 +78,16 @@ class MachineGroup extends BaseDomain {
         // Demand held by the movement gate while the group is 'working'. Latest
         // wins; flushed by _maybeFlushPendingDemand once the group is 'ready'.
         this._pendingDemand = null;
-        // Intent of the last dispatch that actually proceeded — used by the
+        // Intent of the last dispatch that actually proceeded — recorded so a
-        // movement gate to treat a mode/priority change as urgent (a new
+        // pressure-emergency re-dispatch can re-plan the SAME intent against
-        // intent), not a hold-worthy nudge.
+        // the new envelope without inventing a setpoint.
         this._lastDispatchedMode = null;
         this._lastPriorityKey = JSON.stringify(null);
+        this._lastPriorityList = null;
+        // Pressure-emergency latch. Set when handlePressureChange fires a
+        // bypass dispatch; cleared once pressure falls back below threshold,
+        // so the (several-times-a-second) handler doesn't re-fire every tick.
+        this._emergencyLatched = false;
         this.dynamicTotals  = { flow: { min: Infinity, max: 0 }, power: { min: Infinity, max: 0 }, NCog: 0 };
         this.absoluteTotals = { flow: { min: Infinity, max: 0 }, power: { min: Infinity, max: 0 } };
 
@@ -91,7 +96,7 @@ class MachineGroup extends BaseDomain {
         // call that is later superseded resolves with { superseded: true }.
         this._demandDispatcher = new DemandDispatcher(
             { logger: this.logger },
-            (payload) => this._runDispatch(payload.source, payload.demand, payload.powerCap, payload.priorityList),
+            (payload) => this._runDispatch(payload.source, payload.demand, payload.powerCap, payload.priorityList, { emergency: payload.emergency === true }),
         );
         this._shutdownInFlight = new Set();
 
@@ -233,7 +238,27 @@ class MachineGroup extends BaseDomain {
         const eff = this.measurements.type('efficiency').variant('predicted').position(POSITIONS.AT_EQUIPMENT).getCurrentValue() ?? null;
         this.calcDistanceBEP(eff, maxEfficiency, lowestEfficiency);
         this.notifyOutputChanged();
-        // Group may have just settled — release any demand the gate is holding.
+        // Emergency bypass: a pressure excursion pre-empts the rendezvous lock
+        // and re-plans the last intent against the new envelope immediately.
+        // Inert until planner.emergencyPressurePa is configured (see
+        // _pressureEmergency). Latched so we fire once per excursion, not every
+        // tick; the latch clears when pressure falls back below threshold.
+        if (this._pressureEmergency()) {
+            if (!this._emergencyLatched && Number.isFinite(this._lastDemand?.canonical)) {
+                this._emergencyLatched = true;
+                this.logger.warn(`Pressure emergency — pre-empting rendezvous, re-planning last demand ${this._lastDemand.canonical.toFixed(3)}.`);
+                Promise.resolve(this._demandDispatcher.fireAndWait({
+                    source: 'pressure-emergency',
+                    demand: this._lastDemand.canonical,
+                    powerCap: Infinity,
+                    priorityList: this._lastPriorityList,
+                    emergency: true,
+                })).catch((e) => this.logger?.error?.(`emergency dispatch failed: ${e?.message || e}`));
+            }
+        } else {
+            this._emergencyLatched = false;
+        }
+        // Group may have just settled — release any demand the lock is holding.
         this._maybeFlushPendingDemand();
     }
 
@@ -262,25 +287,34 @@ class MachineGroup extends BaseDomain {
         return 'ready';
     }
 
-    // Is this demand urgent enough to pre-empt an in-flight group movement?
+    // May this demand pre-empt an in-flight rendezvous? Only an EMERGENCY may —
-    //   • a stop (≤0) is always urgent — never make the operator wait to stop;
+    // a committed rendezvous is otherwise locked, and ordinary new setpoints
-    //   • the first demand (no prior) dispatches immediately;
+    // (any size, mode/priority changes included) are deferred and dispatched
-    //   • a control-mode switch or a changed priority order is a new intent,
+    // sequentially once the group is 'ready' (_maybeFlushPendingDemand). This
-    //     not a nudge — dispatch it now rather than holding it;
+    // is what stops a re-plan from re-deferring a pump that's mid-sequence
-    //   • otherwise a step larger than `planner.urgentDemandFraction` of the
+    // (which parked starting pumps at minimum flow → the staging bump).
-    //     capacity envelope (default 25%) pre-empts; smaller nudges wait for
+    //   • a stop (≤0) is always an emergency — never make the operator wait;
-    //     the group to be 'ready' so they don't thrash the current ramp.
+    //   • the first demand (no prior intent) must proceed or nothing ever runs;
-    _isUrgentDemand(demandQ, priorityList) {
+    //   • a pressure excursion (opts.emergency, raised by handlePressureChange)
+    //     pre-empts so rising discharge pressure is actioned immediately.
+    // Everything else returns false → defer.
+    _isEmergencyDemand(demandQ, opts = {}) {
         if (!(demandQ > 0)) return true;
         if (this._lastDemand?.canonical == null) return true;
-        if (this.mode !== this._lastDispatchedMode) return true;
+        return opts.emergency === true;
-        if (JSON.stringify(priorityList ?? null) !== this._lastPriorityKey) return true;
+    }
-        const dt = (typeof this.calcDynamicTotals === 'function' ? this.calcDynamicTotals() : this.dynamicTotals) || {};
+
-        const span = Number(dt?.flow?.max) || 0;
+    // Pressure-excursion detector for the emergency bypass. Returns true when
-        if (span <= 0) return true;
+    // the resolved header pressure breaches a configured safety threshold.
-        const frac = Math.abs(demandQ - this._lastDemand.canonical) / span;
+    // INERT BY DEFAULT: with no `planner.emergencyPressurePa` set, this always
-        const thr = Number(this.config?.planner?.urgentDemandFraction);
+    // returns false — the bypass mechanism is wired and tested but never fires
-        return frac >= (Number.isFinite(thr) ? thr : 0.25);
+    // until a real threshold is configured. (Rate-of-rise can be added here
+    // later behind its own config key without touching the call sites.)
+    _pressureEmergency() {
+        const absPa = Number(this.config?.planner?.emergencyPressurePa);
+        if (!Number.isFinite(absPa) || absPa <= 0) return false;
+        const p = this.operatingPoint?.headerDiffPa;
+        return Number.isFinite(p) && p >= absPa;
     }
 
     // Dispatch a demand held by the movement gate, once the group has settled.
@@ -474,7 +508,7 @@ class MachineGroup extends BaseDomain {
         return this.handleInput('parent', canonical);
     }
 
-    async _runDispatch(source, demand, powerCap, priorityList) {
+    async _runDispatch(source, demand, powerCap, priorityList, opts = {}) {
         const demandQ = parseFloat(demand);
         if (!Number.isFinite(demandQ)) {
             this.logger.error(`Invalid flow demand input: ${demand}.`);
@@ -485,24 +519,25 @@ class MachineGroup extends BaseDomain {
         // keep a defensive check in case turnOff-state arrives some other way.
         if (demandQ <= 0) { await this.turnOffAllMachines(); return; }
 
-        // Movement gate. If the group is still converging on its previous
+        // Rendezvous lock. While the group is still converging on its committed
-        // intent ('working') and this demand is NOT urgent, hold it instead of
+        // plan ('working'), an ordinary new setpoint is NOT applied — it is
-        // aborting the in-flight ramps. The held demand (latest wins) is
+        // remembered (latest wins) and dispatched sequentially once the group
-        // dispatched the moment the group reports 'ready'
+        // reports 'ready' (_maybeFlushPendingDemand, off handlePressureChange).
-        // (_maybeFlushPendingDemand, off handlePressureChange). This is what
+        // This keeps a re-plan from dropping the in-flight schedule and
-        // stops a fast-re-commanding parent from freezing pumps at 0 by
+        // re-deferring a pump that's mid-sequence — which parked starting pumps
-        // aborting every ramp before it can progress. Urgent demand (shutdown,
+        // at minimum flow (the staging bump). Only an EMERGENCY (stop, or a
-        // or a large step) still pre-empts and dispatches immediately.
+        // pressure excursion flagged via opts.emergency) pre-empts.
-        if (this.getMovementState() === 'working' && !this._isUrgentDemand(demandQ, priorityList)) {
+        if (this.getMovementState() === 'working' && !this._isEmergencyDemand(demandQ, opts)) {
             this._pendingDemand = { source, demand: demandQ, powerCap, priorityList };
-            this.logger.debug(`Demand ${demandQ.toFixed(3)} held — group 'working'; will dispatch when 'ready'.`);
+            this.logger.debug(`Demand ${demandQ.toFixed(3)} held — rendezvous locked ('working'); will dispatch when 'ready'.`);
             return;
         }
         this._pendingDemand = null;
-        // Record the intent now driving the group, so a later same-magnitude
+        // Record the intent now driving the group, so a pressure-emergency
-        // demand in the same mode/priority is correctly seen as a nudge.
+        // re-dispatch can re-plan the same intent against the new envelope.
         this._lastDispatchedMode = this.mode;
         this._lastPriorityKey = JSON.stringify(priorityList ?? null);
+        this._lastPriorityList = priorityList ?? null;
 
         await this.abortActiveMovements('new demand received');
         const dt = this.calcDynamicTotals();

test/basic/movement-gate.basic.test.js

@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-// Unit tests for the MGC movement state + dispatch-gate helpers
+// Unit tests for the MGC movement state + rendezvous-lock helpers
-// (getMovementState / _isUrgentDemand). Exercised via prototype.call with a
+// (getMovementState / _isEmergencyDemand / _pressureEmergency). Exercised via
+// prototype.call with a
 // minimal fake `this` so no Node-RED runtime or full MachineGroup boot is
 // needed. See project rule .claude/rules/testing.md (basic = pure logic).
 
@@ -40,38 +41,46 @@ test('movementState: working when the executor still has scheduled commands', ()
   assert.equal(movementStateOf({ a: machine('operational') }, 2), 'working');
 });
 
-function urgent(demandQ, {
+// Rendezvous lock: only an EMERGENCY pre-empts an in-flight rendezvous; every
-  mode = 'optimalControl', lastMode = 'optimalControl',
+// ordinary setpoint (any size, mode/priority change included) defers.
-  last = 10, priorityList = null, lastPriorityKey = 'null', span = 100, thr,
+function emergency(demandQ, { last = 10, emergency = false } = {}) {
-} = {}) {
+  return MachineGroup.prototype._isEmergencyDemand.call({
-  return MachineGroup.prototype._isUrgentDemand.call({
     _lastDemand: last == null ? null : { canonical: last },
-    mode, _lastDispatchedMode: lastMode, _lastPriorityKey: lastPriorityKey,
+  }, demandQ, { emergency });
-    calcDynamicTotals: () => ({ flow: { max: span } }),
-    config: { planner: thr == null ? {} : { urgentDemandFraction: thr } },
-  }, demandQ, priorityList);
 }
 
-test('urgent: a stop (≤0) always pre-empts', () => {
+test('emergency: a stop (≤0) always pre-empts', () => {
-  assert.equal(urgent(0), true);
+  assert.equal(emergency(0), true);
-  assert.equal(urgent(-5), true);
+  assert.equal(emergency(-5), true);
 });
-test('urgent: the first demand (no prior) dispatches immediately', () => {
+test('emergency: the first demand (no prior) dispatches immediately', () => {
-  assert.equal(urgent(50, { last: null }), true);
+  assert.equal(emergency(50, { last: null }), true);
 });
-test('urgent: a control-mode switch is a new intent', () => {
+test('emergency: an explicit emergency flag pre-empts', () => {
-  assert.equal(urgent(10, { mode: 'priorityControl', lastMode: 'optimalControl' }), true);
+  assert.equal(emergency(60, { last: 10, emergency: true }), true);
 });
-test('urgent: a changed priority order is a new intent', () => {
+test('emergency: an ordinary same-mode step defers (large or small)', () => {
-  assert.equal(urgent(10, { priorityList: ['eff', 'std'], lastPriorityKey: 'null' }), true);
+  assert.equal(emergency(12, { last: 10 }), false); // small nudge — defer
+  assert.equal(emergency(60, { last: 10 }), false); // large step — also defers now
 });
-test('urgent: a small same-mode nudge is held (not urgent)', () => {
+
-  assert.equal(urgent(12, { last: 10, span: 100 }), false); // 2% of span < 25%
+// Pressure-excursion detector — inert until planner.emergencyPressurePa is set.
+function pressureEmergency({ thr, headerPa } = {}) {
+  return MachineGroup.prototype._pressureEmergency.call({
+    config: { planner: thr == null ? {} : { emergencyPressurePa: thr } },
+    operatingPoint: { headerDiffPa: headerPa },
+  });
+}
+
+test('pressureEmergency: inert (false) when no threshold is configured', () => {
+  assert.equal(pressureEmergency({ headerPa: 999999 }), false);
 });
-test('urgent: a large same-mode step pre-empts', () => {
+test('pressureEmergency: false when header is below the configured threshold', () => {
-  assert.equal(urgent(60, { last: 10, span: 100 }), true); // 50% of span ≥ 25%
+  assert.equal(pressureEmergency({ thr: 200000, headerPa: 150000 }), false);
 });
-test('urgent: threshold is configurable via planner.urgentDemandFraction', () => {
+test('pressureEmergency: true when header breaches the configured threshold', () => {
-  assert.equal(urgent(15, { last: 10, span: 100, thr: 0.02 }), true);  // 5% ≥ 2%
+  assert.equal(pressureEmergency({ thr: 200000, headerPa: 210000 }), true);
-  assert.equal(urgent(15, { last: 10, span: 100, thr: 0.5 }), false);  // 5% < 50%
+});
+test('pressureEmergency: false when header pressure is unknown', () => {
+  assert.equal(pressureEmergency({ thr: 200000, headerPa: undefined }), false);
 });

test/integration/bep-distance-demand-sweep.integration.test.js

@@ -48,13 +48,26 @@ async function buildGroupWithPressure() {
   return { mgc, pumps };
 }
 
+// Settle to 'ready' between demands. The rendezvous lock defers a new setpoint
+// that arrives while the group is still 'working', so each sweep step must wait
+// for the previous move to land before issuing (and reading) the next.
+async function waitReady(mgc, timeoutMs = 6000) {
+  const t0 = Date.now();
+  while (Date.now() - t0 < timeoutMs) {
+    if (mgc.getMovementState?.() === 'ready') return true;
+    try { await mgc.movementExecutor?.tick?.(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 40));
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 async function sweepDemand(mgc, demands_m3h) {
   const rows = [];
   for (const Qd_m3h of demands_m3h) {
     const Qd = Qd_m3h / 3600; // m3/h → m3/s
     try { await mgc.handleInput('parent', Qd); }
     catch (e) { /* turnOff or no-combination paths are part of the contract */ }
-    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 30));
+    await waitReady(mgc);
     const out = getOutput(mgc);
     rows.push({
       demand: Qd_m3h,

test/integration/ncog-distribution.integration.test.js

@@ -27,6 +27,19 @@ const baseCurve = require('../../../generalFunctions/datasets/assetData/curves/h
 
 /* ---- helpers ---- */
 
+// Settle the group to 'ready'. The rendezvous lock defers a setpoint arriving
+// while the group is still 'working', so a full-MGC test must wait for each
+// move to land before reading steady state or issuing the next demand.
+async function waitReady(mgc, timeoutMs = 6000) {
+  const t0 = Date.now();
+  while (Date.now() - t0 < timeoutMs) {
+    if (mgc.getMovementState?.() === 'ready') return true;
+    try { await mgc.movementExecutor?.tick?.(); } catch { /* ignore */ }
+    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 40));
+  }
+  return false;
+}
+
 function deepClone(obj) { return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(obj)); }
 
 function distortSeries(series, scale = 1, tilt = 0) {
@@ -414,6 +427,7 @@ test('full MGC optimalControl uses ≤ power than priorityControl for mixed pump
     return mgc.interpolation.interpolate_lin_single_point(pct, 0, 100, dt.flow.min, dt.flow.max);
   }
   await mg.handleInput('parent', pctCanonical(mg, 50), Infinity);
+  await waitReady(mg); // rendezvous lock — let the move land before reading steady state
   const optPower = mg.measurements.type('power').variant('predicted').position('atequipment').getCurrentValue() || 0;
   const optFlow = mg.measurements.type('flow').variant('predicted').position('atequipment').getCurrentValue() || 0;
 
@@ -422,10 +436,12 @@ test('full MGC optimalControl uses ≤ power than priorityControl for mixed pump
     await m.handleInput('parent', 'execSequence', 'shutdown');
     await m.handleInput('parent', 'execSequence', 'startup');
   }
+  await waitReady(mg); // ensure the group is settled so the next demand isn't deferred
 
   // Run priorityControl
   mg.setMode('prioritycontrol');
   await mg.handleInput('parent', pctCanonical(mg, 50), Infinity, ['eff', 'std', 'weak']);
+  await waitReady(mg);
   const prioPower = mg.measurements.type('power').variant('predicted').position('atequipment').getCurrentValue() || 0;
   const prioFlow = mg.measurements.type('flow').variant('predicted').position('atequipment').getCurrentValue() || 0;