EMDR: Electric Motor Drive Systems for Electrified Mobility

May 14, 2026

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The EMDR team designs, builds, and tests high-performance electric motor drive systems for drone propulsion, robotic actuation, and electric racing vehicles. Students apply power electronics, embedded control, and mechanical design to advance next-generation mobility platforms.

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Detailed Description

The Electric Motor Drive Systems for Electrified Mobility (EMDR) team addresses the growing demand for efficient, high-power-density drive systems across autonomous aerial vehicles, robotic platforms, and competitive electric vehicles. Students investigate the full drive chain from inverter topology and motor winding design to closed-loop field-oriented control and thermal management, targeting the unique performance requirements of each application domain. Active sub-teams develop brushless DC propulsion systems optimized for multi-rotor drone endurance and agility, servo-grade drives for robotic joints requiring precise torque control, and high-voltage traction inverters for formula-style electric racecars. The team leverages high-fidelity simulation, dynamometer testing, and on-vehicle validation to iterate rapidly on designs, while also exploring battery management and regenerative braking strategies that improve overall system efficiency. By integrating coursework in power electronics, control systems, and mechanical engineering, EMDR provides students with hands-on research experience and industry-relevant skills sought by aerospace, automotive, and robotics employers.

Relevant Technologies

  • Power eletronics and motor drives
  • Embedded control systems (FOC/BLDC)
  • Battery management and energy storage

Prerequisite Knowledge

  • Recommended: introductory circuits (ECE 2k1 or equivalent) and basic programming (Python or C/C++). No prior motor control experience required—students motivated to learn embedded systems or power electronics are encouraged to apply. Interested students should attend the team’s orientation session held at the start of each semester for an overview of sub-teams and onboarding resources.