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Applications and Technology Trends
- Review of PM machine applications
- Suitability for direct-drive applications
- High-power-density and high-efficiency applications
- Trends toward higher speed and higher power
- Trends toward higher motor-converter
integration
Fundamentals of Synchronous Machines
- Equivalent circuit models
- d-q modeling for salient pole machine
- Magnetic circuit model
- Introduction to magnetic materials properties
Major PM Machine Topologies
- Features and comparative overview, attributes for selection
- Stator and rotor configurations, including radial and axial
PM Machine Design and Analysis, Tools, and Methods
- Electromagnetic
- Thermal and structural
- Parameter measurement
- Design for self-sensing
Drive System Issues for PM Motors and Generators
- Drive configurations and topologies
- Torque-speed characteristics
PM Drive Control
- Current regulators
- Vector control and direct torque control (DTC)
- Sensors, observers, and self-sensing control
Flux-Weakening Control
- Alternative control algorithms
- Interactions between machine design and control
Drive System Simulation
- Matlab/Simulink
- Rapid prototyping
Fault-Mode Operation
- Open-circuit and short-circuit faults
- Uncontrolled generator operation
- Demagnetization
- Fault-tolerant machine design
Registration Date/Time:
10/26/2026 08:00am Central Time
Event Dates/Times:
- 10/26/2026 8:30am - 4:00pm Central Time
- 10/27/2026 8:30am - 4:00pm Central Time
- 10/28/2026 8:30am - 4:00pm Central Time
- 10/29/2026 8:30am - 4:00pm Central Time
This is an online only taught course.
ALL students should obtain a UW NetID. Please access the Canvas platform once you receive your NetID. If you use a workplace computer or laptop you may not have administrative access to our website. Please check if you can access it before the first day of class. Check with your IT Dept to gain access or use a private computer.
A link to access the course materials and the webinar platform will be provided to all students a few days before the course. Please watch the email address you provide during registration for release dates and pre-course information.
No cancellations or refunds are permitted once you have accessed the online course and materials.
Contact us if you have questions or cannot access the Canvas course website with your NetID.
Instructors
James Swanke
Senior Motor Design Engineer
James Swanke is an electrical machine designer with an extensive academic and professional background in electrical engineering. Graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.S. in 2014, a M.S. in 2019, and a PhD in 2023, James has developed a deep expertise in high-performance electrical machines. Prior to pursuing advanced degrees, he gained valuable experience working for Siemens specializing in the electromagnetic design of induction machines. During graduate studies, his research focused on the advancement of high-power density and fault-tolerant electrical machines for aerospace propulsion applications. Currently, James applies this extensive knowledge at H3X Technologies, where he continues to work on the development of cutting-edge permanent magnet machines.
Ian Brown
Associate Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Ian P. Brown received the B.S. degree in engineering from Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, in 1999, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 2003 and 2009, respectively. Since 2012, he has been with the Illinois Institute of Technology where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Previously he was with the Corporate Technology Center, A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, WI. His main research interests are high-performance electrical drives and the design of electric machines.
Thomas Jahns
Grainger Professor of Power Electronics And Electric Machines
Dr. Thomas M. Jahns received his bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees from MIT, all in electrical engineering.
Dr. Jahns joined the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He served for 14 years as a Co-Director of the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC), a world-renowned university/industry consortium in the electrical power engineering field. Since 2021, he is the Grainger Emeritus Professor of Power Electronics and Electrical Machines.
Prior to coming to UW-Madison, Dr. Jahns worked at GE Corporate Research and Development (now GE Global Research) in Niskayuna, NY, for 15 years, where he pursued new power electronics and motor drive technology in a variety of research and management positions. His current research interests at UW-Madison include integrated motor drives and electrified propulsion for both land vehicles and aircraft.
Dr. Jahns is a Fellow of IEEE. He received the 2005 IEEE Nikola Tesla Technical Field Award “for pioneering contributions to the design and application of AC permanent magnet machines”. Dr. Jahns is a Past President of the IEEE Power Electronics Society. He was elected to the US National Academy of Engineering in 2015 and received the IEEE Medal in Power Engineering in 2022.
Caleb Secrest
Global Sr. Manager, Controls Solutions & Calibration
Caleb W. Secrest received a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 2015. From 2011 to 2015, he was a Graduate Researcher at WEMPEC under Prof. R.D. Lorenz performing research on improving motor drive precision in order to utilize it as an embedded application specific sensor. From 2015 to 2019, he was a Sr. Motor Control Engineer at General Motors with focus on automotive traction application electric machines and power electronics (EMPE) control. Currently, he is a Sr. Manager at BorgWarner Inc. where he leads a global team on the development and integration of EMPE systems and software for automotive traction applications.
Erick Oberstar
Program Director
Dr. Oberstar is a Program Director with InterPro and has over 28 years of engineering and entrepreneurial experiences. At InterPro he manages programs for and teaches in the areas of AI/ML, Electrification, and Mechatronics. He has extensive experience in embedded real time control systems, signal and image processing, robotics, automation, medical devices. He managed the UW-Madison Mechatronics Laboratory for 22 years where he taught courses in mechatronics, manufacturing automation, automatic controls, and discrete time controls.
He has previous technical roles as a Scientist in the Department of Medical Physics at UW, consultant for St. Jude Medical, and electrical engineer for Orbital Technologies Corporation and Automation Components. His numerous entrepreneurial experiences include working on blood flow quantification, night vision, bacterial detection, robotics, automation, and general product development.
Dr. Oberstar has a Ph.D in Biomedical Engineering and MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering (WEMPEC) from UW-Madison, and a BS Electrical Engineering from UW-Platteville. He has over 30 publications with over 400 citations and three patents. Dr. Oberstar is a Wisconsin Professional Engineer, Harvey Spangler Award for Technology Enhanced Education winner and judge, as well as a SPIE member and senior member of IEEE.
Program Director
Erick Oberstar