Overview

The Group is concerned both with the control and management of electrical energy conversion systems using modern power electronic and microprocessor devices, and also modeling, estimation and control techniques for wide variety of complex dynamical systems. The academic team together achieves comprehensive coverage of the fields of:

• Power electronic circuits and systems
• Electromagnetic and electromechanical devices
• Traction systems and rail system engineering
• Estimation and Control

The group is one of the largest and most productive in its field in the UK; it has an assured international reputation in traction and rail systems engineering complemented by world class research in high frequency magnetics and modeling/control of power electronic converters. In addition the groups research in optimisation techniques and accommodating uncertainty in system identification has a strong international profile.

The Group comprises five academic staff, and a team about a dozen research staff and students. The Groups research is funded by a portfolio of grants and contracts totaling over £500,000 and consisting of a combination of EPSRC and DTI grants, Industrial Research Contracts and Postgraduate Sponsorship. There is also 70:30 split between EPSRC and industrial funding and almost half the Groups research students are funded industrially. Our current industrial partners include:

• BAE Systems
• DERA
• JM Clarke
• London Underground
• Railtrack
• Smiths Industries Aerospace
• TRW Lucas Aerospace
• WS Atkins Rail
• Jarvis facilities
• GTRM
• ALSTOM
• Solartron
• Computer Controlled Solutions
• CDS
• Vapor UK

In association with Nottingham University the Group runs a M.Sc. in Power Electronics and Drives, and in addition the Group contributes to a multi-university M.Sc. on Railway Systems Engineering.