Azizur Rahman , PhD / 68
University research professor for life, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Biography

Before the hybrid car, there was the interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor drive—used in the world’s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius. Azizur Rahman, one of the founding innovators of modern power engineering and a pioneer in the development and application of IPM motors and associated drive technology, is internationally recognized for his work in developing the IPM motor drive.

At Carleton’s power laboratory during 1966-1977, Rahman originated the concept of an IPM motor when he discovered that a hysteresis motor is a temporarily magnetized permanent magnet synchronous machine. From then on, he has been solving problems involved in the design, manufacture and practical application of permanent magnet motors. In 1982, he successfully built the first self-start, high power rating (45 kW), high efficiency (>97%) and high power factor (>95%) IPM synchronous motor.

Rahman, university research professor for life at Memorial University of Newfoundland (the highest academic honor bestowed by Memorial University), has made substantial contributions to the engineering field over 46 years as a leader, a teacher, a researcher and a consultant. In 2008, he received the A.D. Dunton Alumni Award of Distinction—Carleton’s highest alumni honour in recognition of outstanding achievement or contribution in any field of endeavour.

He is a life Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of Canada, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (UK) and a life Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Bangladesh.