CAREER: Irregular Modulation: Harnessing the Hidden Potential of PWM

自现代电力电子技术诞生以来，调制就是控制算法与开关操作之间的桥梁。尽管与调制相关的研究意义重大，但在过去十年中，由于顺序计算设备(例如数字信号处理器)的广泛使用，与调制相关的研究进展相对较小。然而，最近人工智能(AI)技术的突破将并行计算设备推向了前沿。为了利用并行计算设备和人工智能的潜在优势，本项目提出了一种可轻松应用于并行计算设备和记忆设备的非规则调制理论。此外，该项目将充分释放调制的控制能力，使控制带宽真正受益于宽带隙(WBG)器件带来的高开关频率。这种新的调制方法必然会导致新的拓扑结构和控制策略的出现，自然会产生新的逆变器建模方法。此外，PI还提出了一种小型任务启发学习体验(M-TILE)的方法来支持学生，特别是那些来自代表人数不足的群体的学生，以克服冒名顶替者综合症。为了扩大M-Tile的影响，这个概念将通过为期一天的工作坊与当地的K-12教师分享。通过将非规则调制与M瓦片概念深度结合，教育活动将提供世界一流的教育，激励和培养未来的科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)领导者。提出的非规则调制理论将打破传统的锯齿波和三角载波的调制思想，产生一种新型的变流器调制技术。它将从根本上改变未来电力变流器的工作原理。由于调制-控制集成的快速响应特性，除了经典的双环控制架构之外，还有可能实现新的超高速控制环路。这个新的控制回路将适应最近人工智能技术的进步，并导致一种全新的网格服务类型。作为不规则调制的结果，各种新的转换器拓扑、控制和型号将被揭示，具有消除易受攻击的元件和降低电压/电流应力的潜力。因此，本项目中提出的非规则调制理论将成为新的拓扑结构的基本使能。这反过来将最终降低设备应力和组件数量，显著降低转换器成本并增强可靠性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Modulation, since the birth of modern power electronics, bridges control algorithms with switch operations. Despite its significance, research related to modulation has seen relatively little progress in the past decade, generally due to the widespread use of sequential computing devices (e.g. digital signal processors). However, recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have propelled parallel computing devices into the forefront. To leverage the potential benefits of parallel computing devices and AI, this project proposes an irregular modulation theory, which can be easily applied to parallel computing devices and memristive devices. Additionally, this project will fully unlock the control capacity of modulation, enabling the control bandwidth to truly benefit from the high switching frequency brought in by Wide Bandgap (WBG) devices. This novel modulation approach will inevitably lead to the emergence of new topologies and control strategies, naturally giving rise to novel inverter modeling methodologies. Furthermore, the PI proposes a Mini-Task Inspired Learning Experience (M-TILE) approach to support students, particularly those from underrepresented groups, in overcoming imposter syndrome. To extend the impact of M-TILE, this concept will be shared with local K-12 teachers through a one-day workshop. By deeply integrating irregular modulation and the M-TILE concept, education activities will offer world-class education, inspiring and training future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The proposed irregular modulation theory will break free from the conventional idea of sawtooth and triangular carriers and lead to a new genre of converter modulation technologies. It will fundamentally change the operating principle of future power converters. Due to the fast response nature of modulation-control integration, it is possible to enable a new ultrafast control loop in addition to the classic double-loop control architecture. This new control loop will accommodate the recent advancement of AI technologies and lead to an entirely new genre of grid services. As a result of irregular modulation, a wide variety of new converter topologies, controls, and models will be revealed, holding the potential to eliminate vulnerable components and reduce voltage/current stress. Therefore, the irregular modulation theory proposed in this project will serve as the fundamental enabler of new topologies. This, in turn, will ultimately reduce device stress and component count, significantly lowering converter cost and enhancing reliability.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.