The PETRA Operating Unit carries out modeling, simulation and prototyping activities in the fields of static conversion of electricity, robotics and industrial automation, road, rail, naval and aerospace transport, using the most recent IT tools and the most modern technologies. The natural consequence, and qualifying element of the activities of the Operating Unit, is the design, characterization, prototyping and possible engineering of electronic and electromechanical devices and apparatus. Static energy converters, electric actuator drives, multiprocessor architectures for real-time control and data acquisition and processing systems are experimentally created in the Laboratory.
The research activity carried out in the Operating Unit has always represented a strong point for its effects on the industrial and transport sector: companies and public and private research centers have made use of the consultancy of the PETRA Operating Unit thanks the skills acquired in the design field for the prototyping of electronic and electromechanical devices and for studies in the mobility sector. The main research fields of the PETRA Unit concern:
• traditional and innovative static converters of electrical energy for industrial uses, for transport systems and for generation systems;
• discrete and integrated semiconductor power components;
• electric drives for electric propulsion and industry;
• single/multiprocessor architectures for drive control;
• real-time controls, signal processing and data acquisition, communication and transmission;
• electromagnetic compatibility measurements, modeling and simulation oriented towards the prediction of electromagnetic disturbances in industrial and railway applications;
• interaction between static energy converters and electric traction systems.
In the transport sector, the Operating Unit carries out activities, as a national reference, of knowledge transfer, study of technologies and evaluation of organizational solutions to respond to an ever-increasing demand for the mobility of goods and people. The European Commission has placed the policies relating to "Smart, green and integrated transport" among the priorities, to be pursued through the reduction of atmospheric emissions deriving from fossil fuels, the integration of transport and international cooperation through the promotion of the use of renewable energy sources, such as electricity and hydrogen, removing obstacles to the electrification of transport and accelerating the transition towards the use of ZEV (all electric) and LEV (hybrid) vehicles. In the field of LPT (Local Public Transport), attention is paid to the study of systems for the "energy transformation" of vehicle fleets, where the simulation tools developed allow the comparison of the operational scenarios and the consequent design layouts in the "overnight" declinations ”, “opportunity” and “IMC (In Motion Charging)”. The Operative Unit therefore intervenes on these scenarios by maintaining consolidated relationships with national and local public bodies, with industry and sector associations and by participating in European, national and regional research projects.
Contact person: Prof. Mario Marchesoni