Dr Ryan Hughes

Ryans Journey in AAPS: An Alumni Profile

Following on from his Master’s at the University of Bath, Ryan initially explored opportunities in industry, but none seemed as exciting as the PhD projects available. After looking through a range of options, Ryan decided to apply to AAPS because of its wide range of projects and the opportunity to be part of a collaborative cohort.

Ryan is interested in applying his knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering to the electrification of automotive propulsion. During his Master’s, he led the powertrain team for the University of Bath’s autonomous electric Formula Student car and subsequently completed his thesis on the thermal management of a solid polymer electrolyte lithium metal battery pack.

When not working or running, Ryan’s favourite pastime is watching documentaries—anything from true crime to start-up stories.

PhD Focus

In his PhD, supervised by Dr. Chris Vagg and sponsored by AVL, Ryan developed fast and accurate machine learning-based models to predict the temperatures of electric machine rotors in real time. These models can enhance electric motor performance by enabling precise thermal management, without the need for costly sensors.

With increasing electrification in the automotive and energy sectors, electric machines face greater performance demands. Reducing their cost and size, while maximising power output, is therefore essential. Real-time thermal modelling offers a solution by allowing temperature estimation in hard-to-measure areas, such as end windings and permanent magnets. This reduces uncertainty, enabling higher power density and potential downsizing of electric machines.

Ryan’s research aims to improve the practicality of real-time thermal models for electric machines by minimising the complexity and training data requirements of these models.

Looking Forward

Ryan aspires to continue refining and growing his current business, Ziroth, over the next few years, where he shares analysis videos on advancements in electric propulsion. He also hopes to develop his engineering skills further so he can work on increasingly interesting entrepreneurial projects!

Reflecting on AAPS

The biggest thing Ryan learnt during his PhD with AAPS is that every system or project is more complex and interconnected than he first thought, which is why we need people from all expertise and walks of life to be included in them.
 
On reflection, Ryan thoroughly enjoyed his time as a PhD student with AAPS and is sad that it had to end. Ryan says that he learnt a lot and met many incredible people - but the largest lesson is that anyone can become an expert in anything with a bit of time and focus.