21 August 2017

SUBJECT: Welcome to EE527, Dynamics and Control of AC Drives

Electrical Engineer

ECE 527

Welcome to EE527, Dynamics and Control of AC Drives. This course is designed to give a good introduction to induction machines and AC drive technology. I look forward to helping you learn this. We will gain an understanding of several topics as listed on the syllabus enclosed within this set of documents. This list is not absolutely fixed. As student interest warrants, we may add or amplify certain topics and delete or reduce others.

In this course, we expect to achieve the following four goals:

a. Gain a propensity to use first principles to solve problems. To support this, develop a more solid foundation in the use of fundamental principles and methods of electric power engineering.

b. Improve our communications and problem solving skills.

c. Understand methods whereby we analyze power electric drive systems, which include the machine, the electronics, and the control algorithms.

d. Gain the ability to develop and apply mathematical models to predict behavior of power electronic machine drive systems from first principles. We use a range of tools, of which the linear transformation is our most valuable and universally accepted, to enhance our understanding of the relationship between the abstract model and the physical system.

The text for the course is Seung-Ki Sul, Control of Electric Machine Drive Systems (New York: Wiley, 2011), ISBN: 978-0-470-59079-9. Because this is an IEEE Press book and the university library subscribes to all IEEE publications, this book is included in your tuition. You may download it from the university library webpage. If you need assistance doing so, please contact a reference librarian at the university library. It is also available online from various booksellers and through the University of Idaho Bookstore. For some lessons, we will use articles and diagrams from recent publications in the professional literature.

Your instructor for this course is Professor Herb Hess. His contact information is as follows:

Dept of Electrical and Computer Engineering

PO Box 441023, University of Idaho

Moscow, ID83843

Office phone: (208) 885-4341 or (800) 824-2889 ext 4341

Cell: (208) 310-1045 (turned on 7am to 9pm daily)

FAX: (208) 885 6165 (Send homework and exams to this FAX number.)

FAX: (208) 885 7579 (No homework or exams to this FAX number, please.)

Email: or

The course web page, on which homework assignments and exams will be posted at the same time as issued on campus, is located at the following URL: For those enrolled in Engineering Outreach, there are access to videos, in-class slides, and homework (including graded returns and solutions), at

For your convenience, I have enclosed a recording schedule showing when we present each lesson on campus.

Engineering Outreach students: The course is not self-paced. You are expected to keep up. Normally, the streaming video follows the on-campus course by about three hours. Each assignment will have due dates clearly written on the first page. I accept assignments in person, sent through Engineering Outreach’s channels, by attachment to email, or by shared secured directory. If another method of assignment submission is more convenient for you, please discuss details with me. Policies for grading these assignments are enclosed.

Engineering Outreach has a toll-free telephone number 800-824-2889. They also have a FAX terminal for those who still use FAX. Contact them at the toll free number or at 208-885-6373.

Because this is a graduate course on a technologically advancing topic, we will use professional publications and papers from time to time. Your textbook is among these resources. All are available through the university library. Do not be shy about using them. Your course fees have already paid for your use of them, as well as a great host of other library resources. For help, contact the university library and the reference librarians through their webpage: .

I look forward to a challenging and rewarding semester with you.

Herbert L. Hess

Professor

3Incl

  1. Syllabus
  2. Recording Schedule
  3. Grading Policy