CPES @ UPRM

CPES Summary
Established in August 1998, the Center for Power Electronics Systems(CPES) is one of the nation's relatively few National Science Foundations engineering research centers. Its vision is to provide the nation with the capabilities to become a world leader in power electronics through a multi-disciplinary, multi-university, and multi-industrial partner program extending over a ten-year period. The program will be based on an integrated systems approach to standardize power electronics components and packaging techniques in the form of highly Integrated Power Electronics Modules (IPEMs). The IPEM approach makes possible increased levels of integration of the components that comprise a power electronic system-devices, circuits, controls, sensors, and actuators. These components are integrated into standardized manufacturable subassemblies and modules which, in turn, are customized for particular applications.
The Center has four primary goals:
	1. Enable 10-fold improvements in the quality, reliability, cost effectiveness and design cycle-time of IPEMs in a comprehensive Research Program.
	2. Demostrate developes system integration concepts and technology transfer in two Demonstrative Programs: Distributed Power Systems, Motor Drives.
	3. Train future technical leaders by developing innovative power electronics system-oriented curricula to foster inter-disciplinary learning in a comprehensive Education Program.
	4. Deploy the knowledge gained by CPES initiatives through an active Outreach Program and an Industrial Affiliate Program.
CPES is a consortium of 5 Universities and over 80 industries led by Virginia Polytechnic Institutein partnership with University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina A&T, and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. Virginia Tech and the University of Wisconsin host the two largest university/industry collegiate programs in the field of power electronics in the nation. The current research programs at the five universities affliliated with CPES are directed toward specific research areas relevant to the Center's goals. At Virginia Tech (VT), research is focused on high-frequency power conversion devices and circuit technologies,power electronic packaging, ans systems integration. Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-M, electric machines and motor drives, and industrial controls. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), research is focused on novel discrete power semiconductor materials, process techniques, power devices, and smart power ICs. At North Carolina A&T State University (NCA&T), research is focused on nonlinear control, neural networks, and fuzzy logic-based intelligent control. At the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez (UPRM), research is focused on power converters, motor drives, cost modeling and system integration. Thus, CPES, with its extensive resources and established industrial collaboration programs, will be able to significantly leverage NSF support to accomplish its goals.