Presentations that Power Tomorrow: ASPIRE Researchers’ Experience at IEEE Conferences
ASPIRE researchers showed up and showed out at the recent Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) conferences. Between the Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) in San Antonio, Texas, and the Green Technologies (GreenTech) Conference in Boulder, Colorado, eight papers were presented with three being given Best Presentation Paper Awards.
Graduate research assistant, Abdullah Al Mehadi, and Best Presentation Paper Award recipient presented his research at the GreenTech Conference, an international event focusing on the challenges and future solutions facing modern power grids.
His research, “Benchmarking MILP Guided BC-PPO for Grid Constrained EV Charging and V2G Operation” detailed the optimization of EV charging under grid constraints so that charging is delayed when the grid is congested and electricity prices are high.
“Instead of letting every car charge as fast as possible the moment they plug in, my research looks at how to delay or shift that charging,” Mehadi said. “We want the cars to wait until the middle of the night or other suitable moments when the grid is quiet and electricity is much cheaper.”
Mehadi has been working on this project for over three and a half years, and it is a culmination of his research at ASPIRE. Along the way he has contributed to various projects funded by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and many different industry partners. These experiences have been impactful during his time at ASPIRE.
“ASPIRE maintains strong industry connections, providing unique opportunities to work on projects that align with real-world challenges,” Mehadi added. “This has given me invaluable experience, allowing me to collaborate closely with both industry partners and national laboratories.”
At the APEC Conference, Graduate research assistant Dakota Goodrich was also a recipient of the Best Presentation Paper Award with his work, “Active Damping Control for AC-DC Converters with Unfolder Plus T-Bridge Series Resonant Converter.”
The paper explains the problem of oscillations that distort the grid current in ac-dc converters. This issue is typically solved with damping circuits that are often bulky and expensive which creates significant motivation for alternative solutions.
“My research developed a control technique that results in the same damping behavior but doesn’t require any additional hardware,” Goodrich said. “This reduces overall size, weight, and cost of the system, leading to smaller, lighter, and cheaper battery charging systems.”
Due to APEC being the largest power electronics conference in the world, Goodrich found presenting to be a daunting task but gained confidence through practice and his excitement with his project. He was inevitably awarded the Best Presentation Paper Award.
“Ultimately, I knew that I had something meaningful to contribute to the academic world of power electronics and I was excited to share that,” Goodrich said. “My objective was to clearly communicate my research and findings, and receiving the award let me know that I had accomplished that, so I was proud of my efforts.”
Graduate Research Assistant Mckay Waite also presented at the APEC Conference. His research, “An Improved Current-Fed Power Transmitter Design with CLC Compensation for Dynamic Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging” focuses on electrified roadways and development/improvement of the in-motion wireless charging systems.
“Reducing their cost and increasing their electrical efficiency are both key factors for large-scale, real-world deployment,” Waite said.
Talking with power electronics experts has given Waite perspective on the scope and quality of research he has had the opportunity to work on through ASPIRE. He has seen undergraduate and graduate researchers directly contributing to real-world energy and electrification challenges.
“At ASPIRE, we don’t just discuss theoretical ideas. We actively develop innovations that are practical and impactful,” Waite explained. “Programs like this empower students to work on meaningful, industry-relevant problems while building the skills needed to lead future innovations in sustainable energy systems.”
For the latest news, publications, and research highlights from ASPIRE, visit aspire.usu.edu.
About ASPIRE:
ASPIRE, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center headquartered at Utah State University, leads groundbreaking research and development to accelerate electrification. With over 400 global collaborators, ASPIRE focuses on creating seamless, affordable electrified transportation systems, accessible for all vehicle classes, along with the public infrastructure needed to support them. By reducing emissions, improving air quality, and fostering economic growth through job creation and workforce training, ASPIRE’s work spans engineering, social science, policy, and business. Partnering with top universities, industry leaders, and community groups, ASPIRE is driving the future of advanced transportation. Learn more at aspire.usu.edu.
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