Meeting with Weidong Xiao


Weidong Xiao is the author of two popular books

  • Xiao, W. (2020). Power Electronics Step-by-Step: Design, Modeling, Simulation, and Control. Australia: McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Xiao, W. (2017). Photovoltaic Power System: Modeling, Design and Control. New Jersey: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing

Dr. Walid met Dr Weidong on 15th April 2022 for 4 hours to discuss with him the recent results of the conducted survey about what is being delivered in academia and what the industry really needs. Furthermore, to obtain feedback on the developed framework and how a second version of his book might address the identified gap to bring it to a better fit with academics and industries.

Dr Weidong has expressed his full agreement with the developed framework with some recommendations about implementation. Also, he showed agreement on the drawn “Y” model roadmap for power electronics knowledge and skills.

The outcomes of the meeting are:

  • He might consider including the double pulse testing knowledge in his book, which reflects what the industry requires and was shown in the survey.
  • The implementation of double-pulse testing as lab activity is recommended
  • He might consider including High-frequency transformer design knowledge in his book, which reflects what the industry requires and was shown in the survey
  • He expressed that embedding the digital control is important but this will happen with aid of Control and embedded systems courses and Lab experiments. Students’ projects might have a combination of all. Therefore, with a good design of lab activity, this can be achieved to train the student about the implementation of PID or other controllers using microcontrollers and how to set interrupts, ADC, PWM, etc.

Ths discussion included more suggestions about the academic practice and how this might be different from one to another. However, this framework can help to unify the fragmented efforts and facilitate drawing the outline of any curriculum.