An instructional laboratory for the revival of electric machines and drives courses

This paper describes the developments at the University of Minnesota of new approach in teaching of electric drives, focusing on the associate state-of-the-art laboratory. The mission of these developments is to nationally revitalize courses in industrially and strategically vital fields of electric drives (and power electronics). This is accomplished by making these courses appealing to students (undergraduate enrollments have significantly increased subsequent to adopting these approaches) where they receive a first-rate education in just one undergraduate course in a way that ensures a seamless continuity to advanced courses. The laboratory is based on a dSPACE development board and several custom designed power converter boards and electric motors, working on a 42 V DC-bus voltage system.