Power and Drive Systems Group

The Power and Drive Systems Group (PADS) within the Department of Engineering Systems and Management at Cranfield University in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, is a leading UK-based international research group dedicated to Advanced Power Conversion Technologies. The Group has a key focus is on the development of ‘More-Electric’ technologies in modern vehicles, building environments and other mission-critical applications, where strategic proliferation of electrical power, by means of power electronics and other enabling technologies, offer considerable advantages over current systems. PADS specializes in advanced electrical machines and drives, electric propulsion and actuation, power and energy management, and novel power processing applications. Situated among the industry clusters of automotive and aerospace in Southern England, PADS has been successful in forging close links with our defence and civilian industry partners, as well as academic and research institutions at national and international levels. Working closely with other established research groups within Cranfield, PADS plays pivotal roles in maintaining Cranfield’s research and academic leadership in the automotive, aeronautics and energy sectors, where there are strategic shifts to embrace the many benefits that can be derived from ‘More Electric’ architectures.

With its six active researchers and a dedicated laboratory (800 sq.m) for modern electric drives, power processing and ‘more electric’ technologies, the Group continues to build upon its success by providing value-added products and services to our sponsors and partners, based on vigorous research and disciplined project management. The team members have experience in commissioning machine drives in the automation industry and in national transport systems, and also in R&D for the international consumer electronics markets. Our specialist motor drive systems are designed by Cranfield’s own in-house resources. Most of our motor technology demonstrators are prototyped by Cranfield’s workshops. Supported by our business and technical teams, we champion business acumen and sound craftsmanship that have helped us to work closely well with our business partners and other industry concerns, securing major government funding, and recently, winning a DTI innovation award.

Research

The Power and Drive Systems Group has significant expertise in the areas of advanced electric power conversions. We offer both fundamental and applied research opportunities in the following:

Innovative electric drivetrain systems for all-electric and hybrid vehicles, military and other special vehicles
Novel electric machines and actuators for aerospace, space, automotive, defence and other mission critical and fault tolerant applications
Power and energy management for hybrid vehicles, including battery/super-capacitor/fuel cell multiple-storage systems
Electromagnetic launch and electric weaponry
Renewable energy technologies, including solar-powered electric generators and power electronic conditioning
Novel standalone power platforms, high frequency power and data distribution systems, high efficiency man-portable generators

Core-capabilities and Skills

Electric machines and actuation systems: Axial flux traction motors, high torque and high power density motors. Linear and rotary switched reluctance motors and generators. Failsafe and fault tolerant actuation systems. High speed PM motor drives.
Vehicle Independent Electric Transmission Architectures: A novel patented vehicle transmission system exploiting reliable differential gears and in-wheel motor technologies.
Electric and Hybrid vehicles: Battery and fuel-cell powered, and hybrid land vehicles. All-electric and hybrid military and armoured vehicles. Hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Marine propulsion, and podded propulsion for electric ships.
New power technologies: High frequency AC distribution grid. Stealth, distributed power systems. Hybridized power and energy vehicle management systems. Micro and ultra high-density generators. Man-portable power units. Renewable energy technologies.
Power and control electronics: Power converters for electric motors. EMC studies on converters. Novel dual-randomization PWM switching strategy. Pulse-density modulations.
Electric and electromagnetic weapons: High power coil-gun, pulsed power supplies for directed energy weapons, electromagnetic launchers, direct energy weapons, integrated control surface for missiles.