Public defence in Electrical Power and Energy Engineering, M.Sc. Shamsul Arefeen Al Mahmud

The title of the thesis: Towards free-positioning self-adaptive wireless power transfer systems

Thesis defender: Shamsul Arefeen Al Mahmud
Opponent: Professor Omar Hegazy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium
Custos: Prof. Jorma Kyyrä, Aalto University School of Electrical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Automation

Recent advancements in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and autonomous robots have led to smaller designs, improved energy efficiency, and higher power conversion. However, despite these technological strides, the challenge of maintaining sufficient battery charge remains a persistent issue, incurring costs and conflicting with sustainability goals. Wireless power transmission (WPT) offers a promising solution, with research focusing on free-positioning systems that can charge devices and vehicles at any position or orientation, enhancing convenience and aligning with environmental objectives.

This doctoral dissertation addresses key challenges in wireless power transfer over large areas, focusing on achieving efficient, free-positioning charging for multiple devices. It proposes innovative, machine-learning-assisted methods to optimize power transfer based on transmitter-side measurements, avoiding the need for additional sensors or data communication. A novel transmitter pad arrangement and a planar receiver structure enable consistent efficiency across the charging zone, eliminating blind spots and complex tracking mechanisms.

The research introduces dynamic transmitter activation strategies based on receiver position and orientation, ensuring high efficiency (around 90%) regardless of movement. These advancements hold significant potential for applications such as industrial robots and drones, offering cost-effective, scalable solutions for dynamic WPT systems. The dissertation also explores coil and magnetic material optimization to enhance performance and robustness in large-area WPT systems.

Keywords: Wireless power transfer, free-positional wireless charging, large area wireless power transfer, full freedom of wireless charging.

Thesis available for public display 10 days prior to the defence at: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/doc_public/eonly/riiputus/

Doctoral theses in the School of Electrical Engineering: https://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/53