IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - June 2016 - 4

From the Editor

by Ashok Bindra

Exploring new Ideas
for circuits and Motor Drives

lthough manufacturers continue to improve the efficiency,
cost, size, weight, harmonic
distortion, dV/dt, and other similar
electrical, mechanical, and thermal
parameters of electric motors and
associated drives, there are still
many challenges to overcome. In
this issue of IEEE Power Electronics Magazine, we present two articles related to this subject that
explore new ideas for enhancing the
performance of motor drives. The
first investigates a low-cost, highfidelity, processor-in-the-loop (PIL)
platform for rapid prototyping; the
second analyzes problems and recommends solutions.
Simulation has played a crucial
role in finalizing hardware design
for both power electronic circuits
and motor drives. However, with
the rising use of digital-control algorithms and software, prototyping
design and software-control-testing procedures have become timeconsuming and costly. To overcome
these challenges, researchers at the
University of Texas at Dallas, in collaboration with simulation vendor
Powersim, developed a new, lowcost method for rapid prototyping:
the PIL platform. Using a dedicated
microcontroller that controls simulation in the software environment,

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MPEL.2016.2550298
Date of publication: 23 June 2016

IEEE PowEr ElEctronIcs MagazInE

sion chairs, including, "Power System
the PIL platform provides a frameInfrastructure," by Prof. Johan H. Enwork with which to verify the actual
slin of the University of North Carocontrol algorithm. This framework
lina at Charlotte;
is presented in de"Understanding the
tail in the first feaChallenges of Conture article, "A LowSimulation has played
verter Networks and
Cost, High-Fidelity
a crucial role in finalSystems," by IEEE
P roce s sor-i n-t he izing hardware design
Power Electronics
Loop Platform" by
for both power elecSociety (PELS) PresiHarsh Vardhan and
tronic circuits and
dent Prof. Braham
Bilal Akin of the Unimotor drives.
Ferreira of Delft University of Texas at
versity of TechnoloDallas and Hua Jin
gy, The Netherlands;
of Powersim.
"Transportation Electrification," by
In the second feature, "MediDon Tan, immediate past president
u m -Volt age Dr ives," by Haitham
of PELS, of Northrop Grumman AeroAbu-Rub, Sertac Bayhan, and Shaispace Systems; and "Power-Semikh Moinoddin of Texas A&M at
conductor Devices and Components
Qatar; Mariusz Malinowski of the
for New Power Converter DevelopWarsaw University of Technology,
ments," by Juan Carlos Balda and
Poland; and Jaroslaw Guzinski of
Alan Mantooth of the University of
Gdansk University of Technology,
Arkansas, Fayetteville.
Poland, the authors present a comMy article, "APEC Signals Emergprehensive overview of state-ofing Trends," presents the latest adthe-art design and research trends
vances in power semiconductors,
in medium-voltage drives as well
circuit architectures, passives, and
as challenges and requirements aspackaging presented at this year's
sociated with these types of drives.
Applied Power Electronics ConThe article focuses on high-perforference and Expo sition (APEC).
mance, low-cost solutions with minWhile the "Patent Reviews" column
imal flaws.
focuses on patent exhaustion, the
We also continue to cover the
"Entrepreneur Viewpoint" column
Eighth International Workshop on
provides tips to identify and avoid
the Future of Electronic Power Protraps when creating a new startcessing and Conversion (FEPPCON
up. The "White Hot" column sur2015). In the March issue of the magaveys the digital landscape. "Society
zine, we presented an overview of
News" provides a preview of the
this futuristic conference; this issue
upcoming IEEE Energy Conversion
features summaries generated by ses-

z June 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - June 2016