Prof. William (Bill) Robbins

Devices, Magnetics, and Thermal Management

12 modules Slides Video

This intensive course offers an in-depth technical examination of core power semiconductor devices and the thermal management techniques required for efficient power electronic systems. Beginning with a detailed review of semiconductor physics, the curriculum analyzes the structure, operation, and performance limits of diodes (standard, Schottky, fast-recovery), thyristors (SCR, GTO), power MOSFETs, IGBTs, and JFET-based devices. A significant focus is placed on the superior characteristics of wide bandgap materials like SiC and GaN. Practical topics include calculating switching losses, designing snubber circuits for device protection, and mastering heat-sink selection and thermal resistance modeling to ensure reliable, high power-density operation.

Remotely Accessible Hardware Labs for Education and Research in Power Electronics, Power Systems, and Electric Drives

This virtual workshop presented compact, safe-voltage, remotely accessible laboratories developed for education and research in electric drives, power electronics, and power systems. Sessions connected the laboratory platforms to CUSP courses and demonstrated undergraduate, graduate, and pipeline-level experiments using Sciamble Workbench.

Crisis in Power Engineering Education: A National Security Concern

This two-day NSF–NAE workshop convened leaders from government, academia, industry, K–12 education, and community and technical colleges to address the national shortage of power-engineering talent. Participants examined multiple pathways into the field, rewarding careers across the power sector, and freely available CUSP courses and laboratories for workforce development.

Building a Robust Workforce in Electric Power Engineering

This two-day NSF–NAE workshop brought together educators, government laboratories, industry, and workforce-development partners to advance electric-power engineering education by democratizing access to technical learning. Co-located with the ECE Department Heads Association conference and co-sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories and ECEDHA, it addressed pipeline programs, community-college pathways, scholarship programs, international perspectives, interactive textbooks, and CUSP courses and laboratories.

NSF-Sponsored ECE Department Heads and Faculty Online Workshop: Dissemination of Electric Power Courses/Laboratories Developed through ONR Funding

This NSF-sponsored online workshop for ECE department heads and faculty shares a three-prong approach to strengthening electric power engineering education: (1) creating a pipeline of high school graduates into ECE programs through two pipeline courses focused on climate solutions, (2) facilitating teaching of senior/graduate-level courses in power systems, power electronics, and electric machines/drives using freely downloadable course materials hosted by CUSP, and (3) providing hands-on education using extremely low-cost ONR-funded hardware laboratories that can also be accessed remotely.