In EECL, we are researching various motor control algorithms to improve motor driving characteristics. We are conducting research on various type of systems, including traction motors mainly used in automobiles or railway vehicles, and micro drive systems used in medical devices. Currently, research is underway to precisely control motors using variable sampling or torque ripple mitigation algorithms that take into account the nonlinearity of the motor. 

Wireless power transfer is getting more attention due to the emergence of wide-bandgap semiconductors which allow for greater power efficiency, smaller size, lighter weight, and lower cost. Wireless power transfer can be inductive and capacitive power transfer, and EECL is conducting research on both aspects. Currently, we are doing projects on diverse applications such as wireless phone charger, ropeless elevator, and on board EV charger. 

EECL lab is applying machine learning techniques in various ways to the power electronics. First, machine learning is applied for high-performance motor control. We develop technology to effectively reduce torque ripple using artificial neural networks. Second, we are also conducting research in sensorless control of motors using machine learning to replace the existing sensorless methods. Furthermore, machine learning is used to estimate the temperature of the drive system. It improves the reliability, and reduces cost in measuring temperature by removing the temperature sensors. Finally, machine learning is applied for the fault diagnosis on the drive system. In the fault diagnosis of drive system, we are studying fault classification and abnormality detection. The application targets are industrial 6-axis robots and drive systems of electric vehicles, which can improve system reliability by diagnosing failures in advance. 

EECL is conducting research on high-frequency DC/AC and DC/DC converters using SiC or GaN switches, which are next-generation wide bandgap devices. Increasing the converter drive frequency to several tens of MHz can reduce the size of passive components such as inductors and capacitors that occupy most of the converter's total volume, thereby improving the converter's power density. In the case of an inductor, an air core type inductor can be used, and the iron loss component can also be eliminated. Soft switching techniques to reduce switching losses and reduce noise effects must be applied to the control and design of high frequency converters. EECL is conducting research on soft switching condition analysis, design method, and control method according to load operating point for various high-frequency power circuit topologies. High frequency converters are used in a variety of applications such as wireless mobile phone chargers and plasma systems in semiconductor processes.