Electrical Machines and Drives

The Electrical Machines and Drives research group develops and improves power electronics and motor drives.

We are particularly interested in alternative magnetic materials, including:

soft composites - ideal for high-volume, low-cost applications, such as appliance motors
amorphous material - useful where efficiency is important, such as in pumps.

Our Electrical Machines and Drives group aims to:

provide a wider range of electric motor design options, varying in cost and performance
assist with the development of more efficient machines for electric vehicles, including through novel efficiency-mapping techniques
reduce or eliminate the need for feedback devices in the motor-control loop to improve performance, reduce system cost and increase reliability.

Research impact

Our research has had direct industry impact. This includes through, for example:

constructing various prototype machines using scalable manufacturing techniques, with the potential for commercialisation
developing a range of sensorless motor-control software, applicable to variable-speed pump applications.

Consulting services

We consult at all stages of machine and drive development—from design, analysis and prototyping, through to testing and implementation.

Our researchers

We have expertise across a wide range of areas. Many of our researchers are available to assist with research project supervision for Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy students.

Research team	Expertise
Associate Professor Nesimi Ertugrul	Electric machines and drives; Renewable energy/energy storage; Driverless systems
Associate Professor Wen Soong	Electric machines and drives; Renewable energy/energy storage