Current Projects

Sponsor: KMDF (범부처의료기기연구개발사업단)
Collaborators: Insung Medical, Samsung Medical Center, KIMM, LOTCES, K-MEDI hub

We are developing a magnetically levitated centrifugal blood pump and an intelligent operating platform for cardiopulmonary support systems. The pump employs a bearingless motor to suspend and rotate the impeller without mechanical contact, reducing friction and wear while enabling precise flow control. Our research focuses on electromagnetic design of the rotor–stator system, CFD-based optimization of the impeller and housing, high-speed sensing and feedback control for stable levitation, and integration with power electronics and real-time control hardware. The project ultimately aims to establish a compact, reliable, and data-driven blood pump platform for next-generation heart-lung machines and circulatory support applications. 

Sponsor: NRF (한국연구재단)

We conduct fundamental research on high-speed bearingless motors (i.e., magnetically levitated motor systems) for medium to high-power industrial applications. The research topics include 1) design of novel rotor topologies suitable for high-speed rotation, 2) design of multiphase combined windings, 3) computationally efficient electromagnetic analysis and optimization, and 4) development of power electronics and control systems.

Sponsor: NRF (한국연구재단)

We are developing a novel electromagnetic analysis method for electric motors that offers significantly improved computational efficiency with acceptable error compared to conventional finite-element analysis (FEA). In this method, the stator and rotor are modeled using equivalent magnetic circuits, while the air gap is represented by continuous-space analytic solutions to Maxwell's equations. The governing equations from the two heterogeneous domains are unified into a single combined matrix equation, which is iteratively solved to account for the nonlinearity caused by magnetic saturation. This approach achieves over 60x speed improvement compared to FEA, with an average torque error of approximately 3%.

Sponsor: KETEP (한국에너지기술평가원)
Collaborators: LG electronics, Chungnam National Univ, Soongsil Univ, Yonsei Univ, Postech, KIER

Active magnetic bearings (AMB) have been successfully deployed in advanced energy conversion systems, such HVAC chillers. Conventional AMBs use discrete sensors (e.g., eddy-current sensors) to measure the rotor's position and implement feedback controls. However, industry partners concern that sensors are prone to failure at elevated temperatures, such as in heat pumps. We are developing a sensorless control method for AMBs to eliminate the need for discrete sensors.

Sponsor: KRIT (국방기술진흥연구소), Daejeon City (대전시)
Collaborators: Chungnam National Univ and Daejeon Technopark

Conventional helicopters use a swashplate to impose cyclic pitching on the rotor blades, thereby controlling the body's attitude and motions. For miniature drones, however, swashplate is not a favorable solution due to its large volume and mechanical complexity. We are developing a new type of magnetic actuators that can replace the function of the swashplate in a reduced volume and mechanical complexity.

Sponsor: NRF (한국연구재단)

We are developing robotic manipulation technologies for autonomous manufacturing systems. This project focuses on dual-arm mobile manipulators that can collaborate with manufacturing equipment and perform equipment-oriented tasks such as workpiece handling, transfer, and machine tending. By integrating robot control, task planning, perception, and machine interfaces, we aim to enable flexible automation in which mobile robots can autonomously operate across heterogeneous manufacturing processes. 

Sponsor:  NRF (한국연구재단)

Sponsor: Samsung Electronics

Sponsor: Hyundai Motors