Joshua graduated with a masters degree in automotive engineering from the University of Brighton. Most recently tackling the feasibility of a niche battery electric vehicle to be used by the local lifeguard at Brighton beach, he specialised in the drive cycle analysis and design of lightweight electric drivetrains. Previous to this, Josh was an avid member of the University of Brighton IMechE Formula Student team as a chassis kinematics engineer developing the front suspension system and his passion for vehicle design. At the AAPS he hopes to further explore the future of lightweight electric vehicle design, most prominently human-electric hybrid concepts, and the more comprehensive challenges this brings to the automotive sector.
Almost all electric motors today have a fixed coil of wire in the stator (which maintains stationary) and a fixed magnetic circuit in the rotor (which rotates). When a current is passed through this coil of wire, the stator and rotor magnetically interact with each other, and if controlled correctly, will produce a torque to propell the vehicle. Due to the nature of this fixed winding in the stator, there is a fixed characteristic output of the motor, lets assume a fixed torque as this is mostly true.
Josh's PhD is investigating and improving upon previous work that dynamically 'reconfigures' the winding layout, changing the characteristics of the motor, fundamentally exchanging torque output for rotor speed. In this sense, reconfiguring the windings acts as an electromagnetic gearbox within the motor itself simply by connecting the wires in a different configuration. Currently the maturity of this strategy is restricted by the complexity of implementation and commercial attractiveness, therefore, we are primarily developing cost competitive alternatives that maintains the added performance and efficiencies this technology has shown to deliver.
© Copyright 2024 AAPS CDT, Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Automotive Propulsion Systems at the University of Bath
