Challenges of Power Electronic Systems in Deep Space Application & Fulfilling the Destiny of Embedded Power Electronics -Video

Part 1 - Challenges of Power Electronic Systems in Deep Space Application While the field of power electronics is trending towards designs with higher power densities, aerospace applications have had difficulties achieving terrestrial metrics due to limitations on reliability and radiation-hardened components. This talk will provide an overview of the design challenges and constraints faced by power electronic converters in deep-space applications. Examples include the most recent NASA New Frontiers program, Dragonfly (DF), a rotorcraft designed to fly on Titan, one of Saturn's moons. In addition, specific challenges facing a future power grid on the Lunar surface, and design considerations for other high-reliability space applications will also be discussed.

Part 2 - Fulfilling the Destiny of Embedded Power Electronics Students are taught that power electronics is an embedded technology. Consumers purchase them because of the critical functionality that they enable in the products that incorporate them. While consumers typically have little appreciation for power electronics, it is the mission of power electronics engineers to fully embrace the challenge of finding more effective techniques for embedding them into an ever-expanding constellation of consumer, residential, industrial, and transportation equipment. However, no one said that this would be easy! Many of the most appealing candidates for embedded power electronics require power levels higher than hand-held gadgets and live in far more hostile thermal, vibrational, and corrosive operating environments. Despite these daunting challenges, power electronics specialists have made incredible progress during the past 70 years and there are extraordinary new developments in WBG switches, materials, and manufacturing processes that beckon to push well beyond the limits of today’s embedded power electronics technology. Combining looks both backward and forward in time, an enthusiastic call will be issued to power electronics engineers and professional colleagues in adjacent fields to engage in this exciting but daunting multi-disciplinary quest to completely fulfill the destiny of embedded power electronics.