Research Directions
Professor Ching-Ming Lai's research spans new-energy electric vehicles, including electric motors, batteries, integrated electronic control systems, and automotive electronics; unmanned vehicles, including unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous driving systems, and electric agricultural machinery; microgrids and distributed energy resources, including solar power, fuel cells, and battery energy storage systems; power electronics, including wireless charging, power converters, and power supplies; electrical control and applications; and industrial electronic control and applications.
New-Energy Electric Vehicles and Unmanned Vehicles
In the field of new-energy electric vehicles, Professor Lai's research focuses on the integration of motors, batteries, power converters, and vehicle-control systems. His work also addresses electric-vehicle charging and discharging, energy management, automotive electronics, and system stability.
Research on unmanned vehicles extends to unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and electric agricultural machinery. By integrating sensing, control, propulsion, and power-electronics technologies, the research develops integrated systems for intelligent transportation and automated operations.
Microgrids and Distributed Energy Resources
Microgrid systems require the integration of different types of energy sources and energy-storage equipment. Professor Lai's research covers solar energy, fuel cells, battery energy storage systems, and the associated power converters and control technologies.
His research team investigates charging and discharging technologies for battery energy storage systems, power-converter control in microgrids, and system-stability and reliability analysis. The goal is to enable different energy devices to operate together reliably within power systems.
Power Electronics and Energy Conversion
Power electronics is a key technology for electric vehicles, energy storage, and green-energy systems. Research topics include power converters, switching power supplies, wireless charging, and high-efficiency energy-conversion and control technologies.
Through circuit design, system analysis, and control methods, these technologies can be applied to vehicle charging, grid-connected fuel cells, battery energy storage, microgrids, and high-power supply systems.
Electrical Control and Industrial Applications
In addition to energy and vehicle systems, Professor Lai's research also covers electrical control and industrial electronic control. The integration of sensing, drives, controllers, and power-conversion technologies can be applied to automated equipment, intelligent machinery, and industrial energy systems.
These technologies require not only knowledge of circuit and control theory, but also practical experience in system development, testing, validation, and real-world implementation. This allows research outcomes to respond directly to industry needs.
Industry-Academia Collaboration and Technology Application
Professor Lai has long been involved in technology development related to electric vehicles, wireless charging, fuel cells, energy storage, and autonomous driving. Research outcomes include lane-keeping assistance systems for electric buses, wireless fast-charging systems for electric vehicles, autonomous-vehicle controllers, battery energy storage, and grid-connected power-generation applications.
Through industry-academia collaboration and technology transfer, research outcomes have moved beyond the laboratory into vehicle, energy, and industrial systems, establishing a strong connection between academic research and industrial applications.
Major Research Areas
- New-energy electric vehicles and automotive electronics
- UAVs, autonomous vehicles, and unmanned systems
- Microgrids and distributed energy resources
- Battery energy storage and charging / discharging technologies
- Power electronics and power converters
- Wireless charging and power supplies
- Electrical control and industrial electronic applications
Teaching and Talent Development
Teaching and research training emphasize interdisciplinary system integration. In addition to understanding the fundamentals of circuits, control, energy systems, and vehicle systems, students gain experience in power-converter design, energy-storage control, system testing, and the development of practical equipment.
Through theoretical analysis, experimental validation, and industrial applications, students develop comprehensive capabilities ranging from system planning and circuit design to control implementation and integrated testing. These skills prepare them for careers in electric vehicles, intelligent transportation, green energy, energy storage, and power-electronics industries.