Electrical and Computer Engineering Commons^™

Measurement-Based Dynamic Load Model Parameterization Via A Stacked Long Short-Term Memory - Deep Neural Network, Zach H. Smith

All Theses

Increases in distributed generation and changes to predominate load types in modern power systems are driving the need for updated or newly developed dynamic load models. Accurate load modeling is necessary for transmission planning and operation, post-mortem analysis, and inter-regional transfer studies. The most widely used dynamic load model is the WECC Composite Load (CMLD). The CMLD model is an aggregation of substation impedance, under voltage and frequency controls, dynamic motor loads, and static loads. Parameterizing dynamic load models, especially composite models with high parameter counts like the CMLD, is can be difficult. This work proposes a measurement-based, machine learning …

Extremum-Seeking Approach For Real-Time Self-Healing Of Position Sensor Offset Error In Non-Salient Pmsms, Ramitha Kalhara Dissanayake Ralalage

Masters Theses

The inherent advantages of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs), such as high efficiency, has led to their frequent use in industry, including safety-critical applications, such as transportation electrification. The accurate measurement of the rotor position is key to achieving efficient and reliable field-orientation-based torque regulation. With the high reliance on the rotor position measurement, position sensor fault diagnosis and mitigation facilitate a layer of safety. Conventional methods for compensating position sensor offset errors in electric drives typically depend on accurate knowledge of motor parameters. However, these parameters are often subject to variation due to temperature changes, system aging, and other …

Isolated Dc-Dc Converter For An Ev Microgrid, Oscar Yu, William Leiker

Electrical Engineering

This product is a redesign of a DC-DC buck-boost converter which utilizes a new topology, the flyback converter, for use in an electric vehicle (EV) as a microgrid. The main driver behind the redesign is to provide electrical isolation between elements in the microgrid. The EV microgrid consists of the battery, motor, external DC and AC ports, and the power electronics (DC-DC converter and AC-DC inverter) which were designed and built in previous senior projects. Using EV’s as microgrids can help relieve stress from the main power grid caused by charging electric vehicles. Implementing EV’s as a microgrid enables the …

Ai-Optimized Resource Management In Next-Gen Wireless Networks, Fatemeh Lotfi

All Dissertations

Next-generation wireless networks must deliver highly adaptive, scalable, and intelligent connectivity to satisfy the heterogeneous demands of emerging services, including enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra reliable low latency applications. The Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) paradigm has emerged as a key enabler of this vision, introducing openness, virtualization, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven control into the RAN ecosystem. O-RAN’s disaggregated architecture facilitates multi-vendor interoperability and empowers intelligent management through the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC). However, achieving real-time, autonomous, and generalized optimization in such a dynamic environment remains a significant challenge due to its distributed nature, non-stationary traffic, and …

Adaptive Deep Learning In Physical Layer Applications, Ali Owfi

All Dissertations

Traditionally, signal processing models in communication systems have been designed based on solid foundations in statistics and information theory, often assuming linearity and optimizing for simplified models. However, real-world communication systems exhibit numerous imperfections and non-linearities that traditional linear models struggle to capture accurately. Deep Learning (DL)-based approaches, unconstrained by rigid mathematical models, have shown promise in optimizing system performance by accommodating specific hardware configurations and dynamic channel conditions as an alternative to the traditional methods. Despite all the recent research efforts on DL-based methods for physical layer applications, DL models have still not been widely applied to physical layer …

Platforming For Circuit Education, Grady Oliver Schneider

Computer Engineering

The purpose of this project was to provide an alternative for students being introduced to resistive circuits. As a freshman in electrical engineering (transferred to computer engineering), I saw the struggles of other freshman to grasp the conceptual basics of circuits. While there’s lots of guides to circuit education, I think many of them fall short of being both engaging and teaching the intuition behind circuits. A lot of the more advanced concepts in circuits depends on the basic intuition of KCL, KVL, and Ohm’s Law. While there’s several basic techniques (such as voltage divider, current divider, and mesh current …

Time-Domain Symmetrical Components For Detection And Analysis Of Unbalanced Faults In Three-Phase Systems, Ryan Pospichal

Master's Theses

Unbalanced faults in three-phase power systems degrade performance, increase losses, and threaten equipment reliability. Traditional frequency-domain approaches using phasor analysis and symmetrical components offer valuable steady-state insights but respond too slowly for transient or rapidly changing conditions. This thesis investigates time-domain symmetrical components (ISCs) as a faster, physically interpretable method for detecting and analyzing unbalanced faults directly from instantaneous voltages and currents. Two ISC computation techniques were developed and compared: a polar-form method, applying one-third and two-thirds cycle time delays, and a rectangular-form method, which achieves equivalent phase shifts using only a quarter-cycle delay. Simulations in Microsoft Excel verified both …

Position Sensor Offset Fault Calibration In Speed-Regulated Pmsm Drives, Ujala Anuradhi Maha Gamage

Masters Theses

Speed regulation of electro-mechanically actuated systems is common across broad application segments, including industrial and residential sectors. The increasing demand for efficient energy conversion has made permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSM) a preferred choice in modern applications. Vector controlled PMSMs in speed regulation mode being the dominant form of control, accurate speed and position measurement is crucial. However, a misalignment in the position sensor with respect to the true rotor zero position in speed regulated PMSM drives leads to inefficient energy conversion with the possibility of unstable motor behavior. The considered position sensor offset error fault, under severe fault modes, …

Cattlefever: An Automated Cattle Fever Estimation System, Trong Thang Pham, Ethan Coffman, Beth Kegley, Jeremy G. Powell, Jiangchao Zhao, Ngan Le

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Farmers face the critical challenge of monitoring cattle well-being for both ethical and economic success, relying on signals like body temperature and facial expressions to assess their animals' health. However, these indicators have traditionally relied on human observation with manual measurement, which is time-consuming and subjective. Despite this clear need, no automated system currently exists for monitoring cattle body temperature, and available datasets remain limited in scope. To address these challenges, we make two key contributions: (i) We introduce CattleFace-RGBT, a novel RGB-Thermal (RGB-T) Cattle Facial Landmark dataset consisting of 2,300 paired RGB and thermal images (4,600 images in total), …

Extreme Bandgap Al0.63Ga0.37N Quasivertical Schottky Barrier Diodes With A High Baliga Figure Of Merit Of 630 Mw Cm−2, Abdullah Al Mamun Mazumder, Shahab Mollah, Kamal Hussain, Abdullah Mamun, Seongmo Hwang, Tariq Jamil, Grigory Simin, Asif Khan

Faculty Publications

"Extreme bandgap n-Al_0.63Ga_0.37N quasi-vertical Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) with doping densities of ≈8 × 10¹⁷cm⁻³ (Sample A) and ≈2 × 10¹⁷cm⁻³ (Sample B) are grown on an AlN/sapphire substrate using metalorganic-chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Sample A achieves a high forward current density of ≈59.5 kA cm⁻² at 10 V with an I_ON/I_OFF ratio of ≈10⁸ (calculated from the forward current at + 3.8 V and the reverse current at −1 V) and an ideality factor of 2.8. Sample B has a forward current …

Data Center Composite Load Model Parameters’ Tuning, Mohammed Sleiman, Amirreza Sahami, Oluwatimilehin Adeosun, Nathaniel Rice, Katelyn Vance

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The vast expansion of data center campuses has created concentrated and highly dynamic electrical loads that challenge traditional transmission system planning and protection studies. This paper presents a novel approach to model the load of data centers and validate their dynamic performance in a composite-load-model (CMLD) framework.

The data center has three major modules: a static element representing the static devices and busway impedance; an electronic-based element constituting power converters such as rectifiers and inverters, associated power supplies, and a motor-based element encompassing the induction nature of chillers, fans and pumps. Each module represented equivalent algebraic and differential equations depicting …

Auction Consensus Algorithm With Loss Mechanism For Decentralized Task Allocation, Jose Rodriguez, Wenjie Dong, Constantine Tarawneh, Qi Lu

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents an Auction-Consensus Algorithm with a Loss Mechanism (ACALM), a decentralized task allocation method for multi-robot systems that enhances the existing Consensus-Based Auction Algorithm (CBAA) by incorporating a novel loss propagation mechanism. In contrast to purely greedy bidding strategies, it enables agents to dynamically update task priorities based on the accumulated loss from previously unsuccessful bids. This extended work reduces globally inefficient allocations caused by early suboptimal decisions. The proposed approach is evaluated through large-scale simulations in thousands of randomized scenarios and swarm sizes ranging from 5 to 120 robots. Compared to existing CBAA and GCAA algorithms, ACALM …

Editable 4d Gaussian Splatting: Scalable And Consistent Video Editing Via Uv-Texture Decomposition, Shuai Lyu

All Theses

Dynamic 3D videos are now widely used in VR, AR, and telepresence, where users often want to change the style or appearance of objects such as clothing over a whole sequence. However, editing such dynamic 3D content is still hard, because appearance, geometry, and motion are tightly coupled, so even a simple color change must stay consistent in all views and at all time steps. Existing editing methods based on 4D Gaussian Splatting often work in a frame-by-frame way, which is slow and makes it difficult to keep temporal and multi-view consistency.

This thesis proposes Editable-4DGS, a representation-centric framework that …

Lace Network Firmware: A Polarfire Fpga Network For Data Routing And Command Interfacing In Space Applications, Kade C. Howes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Modern small spacecraft rely on powerful yet efficient onboard compute devices to process data from sensors in real-time due to tight power and volume constraints. This work explores a new compute device system built from PolarFire Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which are power-efficient, reprogrammable chips well-suited for space applications. The system connects via a central controller FPGA with one or multiple companion processing FPGAs, allowing sensor data to be quickly received and shared across the network. Standardized data formats and interfaces increase compatibility with spacecraft computers. By simplifying data handling and using high-speed communication links, this architecture makes it easier …

Design And Testing Of A Gallium Nitride Power Amplifier For High-Temperature Radar Applications, Walker Landry Harbison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis offers the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifier integrated circuit (IC) intended for high-temperature radar applications. Radar systems are used in many different applications, such as defense, aerospace, and weather. For their function, these systems require high power, efficiency, and reliability under a wide range of operating conditions. Taking advantage of the material properties of GaN, including its high breakdown voltage, wide bandgap, and thermal conductivity bolstered by the use of silicon carbide in the substrate, this work focuses on examining amplifier performance in both ambient and elevated temperature conditions. The PA was …

Simulation, Modeling, And Economical Optimization Of Small Modular Reactors For Flexible Power System Operations, Javier Bejarano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The transition toward a low-carbon and increasingly renewable electric grid has heightened the need for generation technologies that can deliver both stability and operational flexibility. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), with their modularity, reduced geographical footprint, and capacity for flexible operation, have emerged as promising resources for supporting modern power systems. However, a comprehensive evaluation of their technical performance across steady-state conditions, fault-induced disturbances, and economically optimized dispatch is necessary to understand their role in future grid architectures. This thesis provides an assessment of SMR capabilities using benchmark test systems, data-driven forecasting, dynamic simulation, and unit commitment modeling to evaluate how …

Data Driven Design Of Ultra High Performance Concrete Prospects And Application, Bryan K. Aylas-Paredes, Taihao Han, Advaith Neithalath, Jie Huang, Ashutosh Goel, Aditya Kumar, Narayanan Neithalath

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a specialized class of cementitious composites that is increasingly used in various applications, including bridge decks, connections between precast components, piers, columns, overlays, and the repair and strengthening of bridge elements. The mechanical and durability properties of UHPC are significantly influenced by factors such as low water-to-binder ratios, the inclusion of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and fiber reinforcement. Machine learning (ML) has been employed to predict the performance of UHPC and optimize its mixture designs by using various raw materials. This study first provides a comprehensive review of ML applications in UHPC, focusing on predicting workability, …

Machine Learning For Anomaly Detection In Neural Network Security And Srf Cavities, Hal Ferguson

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the development and deployment of machine learning approaches to address critical challenges in anomaly detection across two distinct domains: neural network security in federated learning settings and cavity behavior analysis in particle accelerator operations at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, Virginia. Anomaly detection identifies deviations from expected patterns, safeguarding systems in cybersecurity, industry, and research against malicious activities and failures. This dissertation demonstrates how our machine learning approaches enhance detection accuracy and efficiency in both neural network security and industrial applications.

First, we investigate vulnerabilities in deep neural networks deployed in federated learning. Although federated learning preserves …

Series Resonant Converters With Medium Voltage Sic Mosfets For Electric Aircraft Applications, Xinyuan Du

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

To develop high-performance high- power-density MV power converters, the emerging silicon carbide (SiC) devices are more attractive than their silicon (Si) counterparts, since the fast switch frequency brought by the SiC can effectively reduce the volume and weight of the filter components and thus increase the converter power density. From the converter topology perspective, with the MV dc distribution, the single stage isolated dc/dc converter are suitable for next-generation electric aircraft system due to soft switching and high power density. In this work, comprehensive static and dynamic characterizations were conducted for the latest 6.5 kV silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs from …

Implementation Of A Three-Port Solar Converter With A Battery Energy Storage System, Maison Christopher Phipps

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increasing deployment of distributed solar and energy storage systems has created the need for integrated power converters that can efficiently manage photovoltaic (PV) generation, battery energy storage, and grid-tied AC output. This thesis presents the implementation and validation of a 5kW non-isolated Three-Port Converter (TPC) adapted for residential solar applications. The converter consolidates three power stage into a high-frequency, compact architecture: a unidirectional boost converter for PV input, a bidirectional interleaved buck-boost converter for battery energy storage, and a configurable DC/AC inverter for 120Vac single-phase output. The system is controlled using a central controller implemented on a TI C2000™ …