Jorge Rodas (Senior Member IEEE, Fellow IET) is a Paraguayan Professor born in Asuncion in 1984. He holds a B.Eng. degree in Electronic Engineering from the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion (2009), an M.Sc. degree from the Universidad de Vigo, Spain (2012), an M.Sc. degree from the Universidad de Sevilla, Spain (2013), and a dual-university PhD degree between the Universidad Nacional de Asuncion and the Universidad de Sevilla (2016). In 2021, he received his Master's degree from the National Defence Council, Paraguay.
In 2011, he joined the Laboratory of Power and Control Systems, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, where he currently serves as a Professor and Research Director. He was a visiting professor at the Power Electronics and Industrial Control Research Group of École de Technologie Supérieure (Montreal, Canada) and the Center of Technological Innovation in Static Converters and Drives (CITCEA) of Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain) in 2017 and 2022, respectively.
Prof. Rodas is an Associate Editor of Elsevier Alexandria Engineering Journal (AEJ) and IEEE Access and a Guest Editor of MDPI World Electric Vehicle Journal. He served as Guest Editor of the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics, MDPI Energies, MDPI World Electric Vehicle Journal, MDPI Sustainability and frontiers in Energy Research. In 2020, Prof. Rodas received the Paraguayan National Science Award. He has been categorised at Level III of SISNI. He has authored and co-authored two book chapters and more than 145 journal and conference papers.
His research interests focus on the applications of advanced control to real-world problems. Current research activities include applying finite control set model predictive control and nonlinear control to power electronic converters, renewable energy conversion systems, electric motor drives, and robotic systems (especially unmanned aerial vehicles).
*Updated on August 26, 2025
In August 2025, Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez, as Principal Investigator, and Raúl Gregor as Director, secured a record-breaking grant (US$1.3M) from the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) under the PROCIENCIA II program. This funding enabled the establishment of the Research Centre in Hydropower Technologies and Distributed Energy (CITHED), marking the largest project ever funded by CONACYT at FIUNA and setting a new benchmark for research and technological innovation in Paraguay.
At CITHED, Rodas leads efforts to:
Develop three specialised laboratories in Hydropower, Green Hydrogen, and Electric Mobility.
Construct a functional hydropower prototype with intellectual property protection.
Conduct feasibility studies on the production and utilisation of green hydrogen for industry and transportation in Paraguay.
Train MSc and PhD researchers and generate high-impact scientific knowledge.
CITHED is a collaborative initiative, bringing together national researchers and students alongside world-class partners from:
University of Nottingham (Pat Wheeler, Marco Rivera)
Universidade de Vigo (J. Doval, Alejandro Gómez Yepes)
École de Technologie Supérieure – ÉTS (Maarouf Saad, Ambrish Candra)
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – UPC (Oriol Gomis Bellmunt)
University of Sevilla (Federico José Barrero García)
The national associate partner is the Comisión Trinacional para el Desarrollo de la Cuenca del Río Pilcomayo.
The outstanding team from the Energy and Control Technologies Research Group (GITEC) are: Magno Elias Ayala Silva, Julio Pacher, David Caballero Morilla, Osvaldo González, Leonardo Comparatore, Carlos Romero, Sergio Ramón Toledo Gallardo, Silvana Olmedo García, Alfredo Renault, Edgar Maqueda Acuña, Larizza Delorme, Paola Maidana, Hernán Lezano, Christian David Medina Morel, along with a network of esteemed collaborators, including Enrique Chaparro.
With this milestone, GITEC and FIUNA reaffirm their commitment to science, technology, and innovation as drivers of sustainable and clean energy development in Paraguay.
In July 2025, Prof. Jorge Rodas coauthored a new scientific article accepted for publication in the IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics (OJPEL), one of the highest-impact journals in the field of power electronics.
The article, titled “Virtual-Vector-Based Predictive Torque Control for Six-Phase IM with Reduced Computational Burden and Copper Losses”, presents a novel torque control strategy for six-phase induction machines that improves torque and flux regulation while reducing energy consumption and computational effort. By using virtual vectors, the method significantly decreases unwanted current losses, enhancing the efficiency of electric motor operation.
This contribution advances the state of the art in multiphase machine control, with practical applications in electric vehicles, marine propulsion, and renewable energy systems. Six-phase machines of this type are already used in industrial and commercial products, such as Dana’s electric motors, Audi Sport’s Formula E vehicle (e-tron FE07), and BMW’s high-end electric SUV, the iXM60, which integrates a dual inverter system, highlighting the real-world relevance of the research.
🔗 The article is available at: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/11104939
About the IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics (OJPEL)
The IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal published by the IEEE. It disseminates high-quality original research in power electronics, covering the design, analysis, control, and application of power converters, renewable energy systems, power devices, and emerging technologies.
OJPEL is ranked in the top quartile (Q1) of scientific journals in its field, according to international metrics such as SJR (Scimago), reflecting its global visibility, editorial excellence, and high academic impact.
In July 2025, Prof. Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez coauthored a scientific article accepted and published in Machines, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on machinery and engineering published monthly by MDPI. The journal holds an impact factor of 2.5 and a CiteScore of 4.7.
The paper, titled “Speed Sensorless Control for a Six-Phase Induction Machine Based on a Sliding Mode Observer”, presents the application of a nonlinear sliding mode observer for speed sensorless control in six-phase induction machines. This advanced control strategy eliminates the need for mechanical speed sensors, allowing robust and efficient operation across a wide speed range, including low- and high-speed conditions.
The experimental results confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method across diverse operating scenarios. The study demonstrates the advantages of this sensorless approach not only as a valid alternative to conventional sensor-based systems but also as a reliable redundant backup in the event of mechanical sensor failure, thereby enhancing the overall dependability of multiphase electric drive systems.
The research was carried out by Larizza Delorme, Magno Ayala, Osvaldo González, Prof. Dr. Jorge Rodas, and Raúl Gregor from FIUNA’s Laboratory of Power and Control Systems (LSPyC), all members of the National Researchers System (SISNI) in Paraguay, in collaboration with Prof. Jesús C. Hernández from the University of Jaén (Spain).
This work makes a significant contribution to the development of robust and sustainable motor drive solutions, with potential applications in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-performance industrial automation.
On 11 April 2025, Dr Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez was formally recognised by the authorities of the Facultad de Ingeniería at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (FIUNA) with the academic rank of Full Professor, the highest position in the university’s teaching career.
This appointment reflects his longstanding dedication to academic excellence, engineering education, and scientific research. Dr Rodas currently holds the position of Full Professor in the Electronic Engineering programme, where he teaches the courses Calculus 5 and Modulation Systems 1.
Throughout his academic career, he has combined high-level teaching with active involvement in research and postgraduate supervision. He remains committed to fostering innovation and contributing to the development of his institution and the broader academic and engineering communities.
February 2025. As the Coordinator of the first Doctorate in Engineering Sciences in the country, I am pleased to announce the opening of this call at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA). This program represents a milestone in the training of high-level researchers.
With an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approach, this doctorate is designed to train specialists capable of addressing complex problems and proposing solutions that impact the national and international levels.
This initiative will provide knowledge generation tools in various engineering branches, promoting technological and scientific development in Paraguay.
Additionally, we have the support of CONACYT and offer scholarships for interested candidates. I have included links with more information, and you can contact me if you have any questions or want to learn more details.
November 2024. As Director of Research at FIUNA, I had the honour of serving as the principal organizer of the 1st International Symposium on Engineering Research. The event brought together renowned international speakers, including Dr José Rodríguez (Chile), Dr Pat Wheeler (UK), Dr Diego Rossit (Argentina), Dr Paulo Rocha de Albuquerque (Brazil), and Dr. Guillermo Artana (Argentina).
The symposium aimed to promote knowledge exchange, inspire researchers and students, and strengthen collaboration between Paraguay professionals and the region. Additionally, FIUNA's researchers showcased their current lines of investigation, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and networking.
This milestone event reflects our institution's commitment to advancing scientific research and fostering innovation across engineering disciplines.
October 2024. I had the privilege of being a keynote speaker at the 16th Webinar of Applied Sciences, where Prof. Magno Ayala and I presented on "FCS-MPC in Six-phase Drives". This online seminar served as a mini-forum to promote research in electric drives and power conversion, focusing specifically on regulating and optimising multiphase electric drives.
The webinar addressed critical global energy challenges, emphasising the role of electric drives in advancing green energy generation, electric mobility, and high-performance industrial applications. Multiphase electric drives, in particular, were highlighted as a promising solution due to their enhanced fault tolerance, reduced current rating per phase, and adaptability for variable-speed applications.
A recording of the webinar is available here.
August 2024. Prof. Jorge Rodas has two papers co-authored under his supervision, which will be presented at the upcoming IEEE URUCON 2024 international conference. The event, scheduled to take place in Montevideo, Uruguay, from November 18th to 20th, 2024, is a prestigious platform that brings together professionals, academics, and students from various engineering disciplines to discuss the latest advancements in technology and applied sciences.
Both research projects involve students from the Faculty of Engineering, National University of Asunción (FIUNA), who have significantly contributed to their respective fields.
Undergraduate Students Present Final Project in Electromechanical Engineering
FIUNA undergraduate students Iván Szwako and Rodolfo Pedrozo will present their paper titled "Sensorless Vector Control Based on MRAS for Three-Phase Induction Machines." This research focuses on developing a sensorless vector control technique for three-phase induction machines using the Model Reference Adaptive System (MRAS) method. This approach is designed to enhance the precision and performance of electric motors while eliminating the need for physical speed sensors, reducing costs and improving system robustness. Co-authors include doctoral students Larizza Delorme and Carlos Romero, alongside faculty researchers Magno Ayala, Osvaldo González, and Jorge Rodas. The project was developed at the Power and Control Systems Laboratory of FIUNA.
PhD Student Presents Research Based on Master's Thesis
Another paper to be showcased at the conference is titled "Loss Analysis in Power Converters with PLECS: A Case Study of Current Control Strategies for Induction Motor Applications," authored by PhD student Christian Medina. Based on his master's thesis, the research investigates power losses in converters using the PLECS simulation tool. This study was conducted with fellow PhD student Paola Maidana and professors Jorge Rodas, Osvaldo González, and Julio Pacher. The primary aim is to optimise current control strategies for induction motors, a crucial factor for improving energy efficiency in industrial applications.
About IEEE URUCON 2024
IEEE URUCON is one of the foremost regional conferences organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world's largest professional association in electrical engineering, electronics, and computing. The 2024 edition will feature technical presentations on power systems, renewable energy, automatic control, telecommunications, and more. The event serves as a critical platform for high-impact research dissemination, drawing professionals and academics worldwide.
July 2024. Prof. Jorge Rodas co-authors five research papers accepted at the prestigious 2024 IEEE Industrial Electronics Society Annual Conference (IECON). This conference will be held next November in Chicago, IL, USA. These papers represent cutting-edge research on innovative control strategies and advanced converter technologies. Below are the key highlights from each paper:
1. Fault-Tolerant Current and Reactive Power Predictive Control in a Multi-Modular 2-Level Indirect Matrix Converter
Authors: Fabian Palacios-Pereira, Sergio Toledo, Edgar Maqueda, David Caballero, Marco Rivera, Jorge Rodas, Raúl Gregor.
This research introduces a fault-tolerant predictive control method to improve reactive current management and boost overall converter efficiency.
2. Predictive Current Control in a Multi-Modular 3-Level Indirect Matrix Converter with Mutual Error Compensation and Fault Tolerance
Authors: Fabian Palacios-Pereira, Nestor Perez-Sosa, Sergio Toledo, Edgar Maqueda, David Caballero, Jorge Rodas, Raúl Gregor, Marco Rivera.
The paper presents a control approach for multilevel indirect matrix converters, integrating error compensation mechanisms and fault tolerance to enhance performance and reliability.
3. Improving Grid-Connected PV Systems Through a Predictive Control Strategy with Asymmetrical Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Converters
Authors: Julio Pacher, Alfredo Renault, Jorge Rodas, Leonardo Comparatore, Carlos Paredes, Oscar Paredes, Marco Rivera, Pat Wheeler.
This work explores advanced predictive control strategies for improving the efficiency and stability of grid-connected photovoltaic systems using multilevel cascaded H-bridge converters.
4. Comparative Study of Sequential Model Predictive Torque Control Techniques Applied to a Six-Phase Induction Machine
Authors: Paola Maidana, Christian Medina, Jorge Rodas, Osvaldo González, Magno Ayala.
This comparative study evaluates two novel control techniques for six-phase induction machines. The SMPTC-VV method, which optimises energy use and reduces machine vibration, demonstrated superior performance.
5. Temperature Control Board Design and Validation for Skipper-CCD Sensors Using a Buck Converter
Authors: Martín Barrientos, Marcelo Barrientos, Jorge Rodas, Claudio Chavez, Carlos Romero, Alfredo Renault, Ana Martina Botti.
This paper proposes a novel design for a power electronics converter used to control the temperature of a highly sensitive sensor. This converter is specifically utilised in particle physics experiments, particularly those involving dark matter research at Fermilab (USA).
About IECON
The IEEE Industrial Electronics Society Annual Conference (IECON) is a premier platform for sharing groundbreaking research in industrial electronics, automation, control systems, renewable energy, and robotics. Over its 50 editions, IECON has become a vital forum for academics and industry professionals to exchange global ideas that drive technological advancements.
About the IEEE Industrial Electronics Society
The IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (IES) is a leading technical society within the IEEE, dedicated to advancing the theory and application of industrial electronics and automated control. Through its numerous initiatives, including three top-ranked scientific journals, IES continues to shape the future of industrial automation, power electronics, and renewable energy technologies.
In June 2024, Prof. Jorge Rodas presented two scientific papers at the prestigious “IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference and Exhibition (ITEC) 2024”. This event, organized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), is among the most relevant in its field. It occurred from June 19 to 21 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, USA.
The conference united professionals, students, researchers and engineers worldwide, fostering crucial connections between industry and academia. In this context, Dr. Rodas presented two innovative research papers focusing on the advanced control of six-phase induction machines, a key technology for electric vehicles.
Presented Papers
“Model Predictive Torque Control based on Virtual Vectors for Six-Phase Induction Machines”, this study proposes a new approach using Predictive Torque Control with Virtual Vectors (PTC-VV). Simulations demonstrate that this method improves torque and flux regulation, reduces undesirable currents, and increases system efficiency.
Co-authors: Osvaldo González, Jesús Doval-Gandoy, Magno Ayala, Paola Maidana, Christian Medina, Carlos Romero, Larizza Delorme, Ricardo Maciel, and Raúl Gregor.
“Sequential Model Predictive Torque Control with Virtual Vectors Applied to Six-Phase Induction Machine”, this research presents a sequential predictive control method that simplifies multivariable control and minimizes machine air gap losses. Simulations validate that this new control structure significantly improves system performance and efficiency.
Co-authors: Paola Maidana, Christian Medina, Osvaldo González, Magno Ayala, Larizza Delorme, Raúl Gregor, and Carlos Romero.
Multiphase motors offer advantages over traditional three-phase systems, including increased efficiency and robustness. These features make them ideal for advanced commercial applications, such as Dana’s electric trucks, Audi Sport’s FE07 e-tron model in Formula E, and the BMW iX M60.
These advances in predictive control of six-phase induction machines represent an essential step toward their broader application in industry, offering more robust and efficient solutions for the future of electric mobility.
It is worth noting that all papers presented at ITEC 2024 underwent rigorous peer review and will be published in the IEEE database.
Prof. Rodas was featured in Paraguay’s newspaper La Nación and Conacyt for participating in the IEEE-ITEC. Here is the link (La Nacion) and link (Conacyt) to read more.
In May 2024, Professor Jorge Rodas was appointed a Technical Program Committee (TPC) member of the third IEEE URUCON 2024, held in Montevideo, Uruguay, from 18 to 20 November 2024.
In April 2024, Professor Jorge Rodas received the prestigious Professor Andres Aguirre Excellence Award 2024. This award, given by the Cordillera Governorate through its Departmental Education Council (CODEC), recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to education and research while serving exemplary role models for Cordillera's youth.
The award ceremony was held on April 25th at the Municipal Theatre in Caacupé, Paraguay. Professor Rodas stood out among distinguished educators and researchers for their outstanding dedication and impact on research.
This recognition is a testament to Professor Rodas' unwavering commitment to excellence and their significant contributions to advancing education and research in Cordillera. It reflects their tireless efforts to inspire and empower our community's next generation of leaders.
In April 2024, Professor Rodas was awarded as a Fellow of the prestigious Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). According to Prof. Rodas, this recognition fills him with profound gratitude as an academic committed to advancing engineering research and education. It is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the collective efforts of countless students, researchers, and colleagues locally and globally, particularly within the Laboratory of Power and Control Systems (LSPyC) at Facultad de Ingeniería - UNA (Universidad Nacional de Asunción).
Entering the IET as a Fellow is a tremendous privilege and emphasizes the importance of our work in engineering and technology. This recognition serves as both motivation and responsibility to continue striving for excellence in research here in Paraguay while promoting our country's presence on the international scene.
Prof. Rodas expresses his deepest gratitude to his family, mainly his wife (Ingrid) and sons (Jordi and Javi), whose unwavering support has been instrumental in his professional journey. Their encouragement has been a constant source of strength and inspiration. He also gives special thanks to Prof. Graham Goodwin (Newcastle University) and Pat Wheeler (University of Nottingham) for supporting this application and Ambrish Chandra (École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) for his guidance and motivation to consider this award.
Prof. Rodas thanks Facultad de Ingeniería - UNA and Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-CONACYT for their continuous support. Being designated as a Fellow of the IET is a significant milestone in his career, and he is immensely proud to represent Paraguay in this esteemed community. He looks forward to leveraging this platform to advance engineering and technology further in our country and beyond.
The national press echoed this fantastic news. Some links are provided next, while some images are also given below.
Conacyt:
Ultima Hora:
La Nación:
5 días
Resumen de Noticias (RDN)
In March 2024, Professor Rodas had the unique privilege of attending the DIES event in Guatemala. As one of twenty-five international deans, he actively engaged in a comprehensive learning experience as part of Module 4 of the International Deans' Course Latin America.
During the four-day program, which commenced on March 11th, participants from diverse backgrounds, including Professor Rodas, delved into topics such as Freakonomics, Cross-Cultural Management, Gender and Diversity Management, Leadership, and Strategic Action Planning. Thanks to the diverse perspectives brought by the deans, the program was enriching. The experience finished with two days of the DIES IDC LA Alumni Networking Meeting.
This immersive international program fosters academic growth and promotes cultural understanding and collaboration among future academic leaders. Professor Rodas's active participation and commitment to continuous learning demonstrate the program's effectiveness in enhancing leadership skills within the academic community.
In March 2024, Prof. Rodas was coauthor of one (1) accepted and published a paper in Machines (impact factor 2.6, citescore 2.1). The article is "Field-Weakening Strategy with Modulated Predictive Current Control Applied to Six-Phase Induction Machines".
Machines is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on machinery and engineering published monthly online by MDPI.
February 2024, Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) accepted and published paper in Electronics (impact factor 2.9, citescore 4.7). The article is entitled "Improving Steady State Accuracy in Field-Weakened Six-Phase Induction Machines with Integrator and Modulated Predictive Control".
Electronics is an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on the science of electronics and its applications published semimonthly online by MDPI.
February 2024, Prof. Rodas is coauthor of two (2) accepted papers at the 2024 IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference & Expo, to be held in Rosemont, IL, USA, between 19 and 21 June 2024.
In February 2024, the Doctoral Program in Electronic Engineering emphasised power electronics commenced at the Faculty of Engineering, National University of Asunción (Paraguay). The inaugural module, Advanced Mathematics, was led by Prof. Jorge Rodas and Dr. Gustavo Rivas. This programme is funded by the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt) through its Paraguayan Programme for Science and Technology Development - PROCIENCIA II.
February 2024. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper presented at the 2023 IEEE 2nd Industrial Electronics Society Annual On-Line Conference (ONCON). The paper is entitled "Sequential Predictive Torque Control of a Six-Phase Induction Machine fed by a Multi-Modular Direct Matrix Converter".
October 2023. Octavio Vera has completed his Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering with an emphasis on Power Electronics at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) after presenting his thesis entitled "Optimization of the Super-Twisting Controller Gain Tuning Applied to the Flight Control of a Quadcopter based on the Particle Swarm Algorithm". Medina's master's thesis was developed under the supervision of Prof. Dr Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez (FIUNA, Paraguay).
On November 21, 2023, the National Council for Science and Technology (Conacyt) announced Resolution No. 627/2023, revealing the list of evaluated candidates in the Call I/2023 of the National Program for Researchers' Incentives (PRONII). In this context, Prof. Jorge Rodas has been categorised at Level III of PRONII. PRONII categorises researchers who live in Paraguay into different levels based on their experience, postgraduate supervision and contribution to research.
Level III is reserved for consolidated researchers with a long career and significant contributions to the development of research in Paraguay and worldwide. This level constitutes the highest categorisation a researcher can achieve in the country.
November 2023. Prof. Rodas has attended the II Annual Meeting of Universidad Nacional de Asuncion (UNA) Research Directors.
To analyze the future challenges of research at the UNA, the Second Annual Meeting of the Research Directors of the academy, the “UNA Scientific Colloquiums”, was held. The event took place last Monday, November 13, at the Information Access Center of the UNA Central Library.
The meeting was headed by Prof. Dr Javier Barúa, general director of Scientific and Technological Research (DGICT-UNA). It was also made up of research directors from the different academic units, centres and institutes of the UNA. The space, which was developed asa round table, presented the achievements, opportunities and challenges of scientific research of each participating unit.
October 2023. Prof. Rodas took on the role of president of the evaluation committee for a master's thesis. This thesis, titled "Design and Implementation of a Prototype of a Fast Charging Station for Electric Vehicles," represents a significant contribution to sustainable transportation.
The Evaluation Committee, which included Prof. Dr. Edgar Maqueda and Prof. Dr. Leonardo Comparatore, both from FIUNA, Paraguay, played a vital role in assessing and recognizing the excellence of this work.
October 2023. Christian Medina has completed his Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering with an emphasis on Power Electronics at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) after presenting his thesis entitled "Analysis of switching losses in power electronic converters". Medina's master's thesis was developed under the supervision of Prof. Dr Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez (FIUNA, Paraguay), and co-supervision of Prof. Dr Osvaldo González (FIUNA, Paraguay), Prof. Dr Magno Ayala (FIUNA, Paraguay) and Prof. Dr Alfredo Renault (FIUNA, Paraguay).
October 2023. Paola Maidana has completed his Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering with an emphasis on Power Electronics at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) after presenting his thesis entitled "Sequential predictive torque control applied to a six-phase induction machine". Maidana's master's thesis was developed under the supervision of Prof. Dr Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez (FIUNA, Paraguay) and the co-supervision of Prof. Dr Osvaldo González (FIUNA, Paraguay), Prof. Dr Magno Ayala (FIUNA, Paraguay) and. MSc Larizza Delorme (FIUNA, Paraguay).
September 2023. Prof. Rodas represents the Faculty of Engineering at the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) in the prestigious 'DIES – International Deans’ Course.' This program, organized by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), in collaboration with the Universities of Saarland (Germany) and Alicante (Spain), aims to empower newly elected Deans and Vice-Deans from higher education institutions across Latin America. Participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru convene in Saarbrücken, Germany, for Module 1. Prof. Rodas Benítez's representation underscores FIUNA's dedication to enhancing academic leadership and fostering innovation in higher education in Paraguay.
August 2023. Prof. Rodas has been designed by the Paraguayan government as a participant in the 21st INPRO Dialogue Forum on the Deployment of Small Modular Reactor Projects and Technologies to Support the Sustainable Development Goals (SMRs for SDGs) to be held at the Rosatom Technical Academy, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, from 28 August to 1 September 2023. During the event, Prof. Rodas will be given a talk entitled "Development of future energy in Paraguay: challenges and opportunities.
July 2023. A significant milestone, the 1st Edition of the Doctoral Program in Electronic Engineering with an Emphasis on Power Electronics (POS16-5) at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) has culminated successfully. This accomplishment was marked by the presentation of a doctoral thesis titled "Predictive Voltage Control in Microgrid Applications Based on Multimodal Matrix Converters," performed by doctoral candidate David Caballero Morilla. The doctoral thesis stood out for its innovative approach and contribution to problem-solving in the context of the first global energy crisis. Prof. Jorge Rodas was a member of the examination board. The thesis defence occurred on Thursday, July 27th, at the Center for Technological Innovation (CITEC) in Luque. Dr Caballero Morilla's research was evaluated by a prestigious examination board comprising experts from renowned universities. The board's unanimous recognition of the high-quality research is a testament to Dr Caballero Morilla's outstanding achievements.
You'll be able to read more about it here.
July 2023. Prof. Rodas was highlighted in Paraguay's newspaper La Nación for being recognised by the "Scival CICCO 2023 Award". You can read more about it here.
July 2022. On July 19, 2023, I had the privilege of receiving the "Scival CICCO 2023 Award" from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología-CONACYT and Elsevier, recognizing me as the Paraguayan author with the most publications in one of the top 5% topics of global prominence, based on metrics extracted from Elsevier's extensive database. 🌍
This prestigious recognition is a testament to the outstanding teamwork and collaboration within the Power Systems and Control Laboratory (LSPyC) of Facultad de Ingeniería - UNA, Universidad Nacional de Asunción. My heartfelt gratitude goes to my dedicated colleagues and collaborators from Paraguay and worldwide, whose unwavering support and expertise have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.
Together, we are driving advancements in science and technology, and I am truly humbled to be part of such a dedicated and accomplished global community.
Thank you all for being an integral part of this journey.
July 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor and corresponding author of one (1) paper accepted and published in the Elsevier Hardware X (CiteScore 4.2 Scopus). The paper is entitled " Design and validation of a multilevel voltage source converter based on modular H-bridge cells" and is free-access.
May 2023. Prof. Rodas was invited as a Speaker in the Zhixin Lecture Hall at Tongji University (Shanghai, China). Tongji University is celebrating its 116th anniversary in May, and this talk is part of the College of Electronics and Information Engineering's activities in celebration. The talk is around 45 minutes, including Q & A at most 60 minutes. Listeners are graduate students of the abovementioned college from different disciplines. The ZOOM meeting information is as follows:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81370203313
Meeting number:81370203313
Meeting password:206789
Beijing Time 19:00-20:00, 26th May
Asuncion Time 7:00-8:00, 26th May
May 2023. Prof. Rodas visited during May 22-24, 2023 Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad San Sebastián, both a Santiago (Chile).
April 2023. Prof. Rodas has been appointed as an Associate Editor at IEEE Access journal.
IEEE Access is a multidisciplinary, online-only, gold, fully open-access journal that continuously presents the results of original research or development across all IEEE fields of interest. Supported by article processing charges (APCs), its hallmarks are rapid peer review, a submission-to-publication time of 4 to 6 weeks, and articles that are freely available to all readers.
April 2023. Prof. Rodas was highlighted in Paraguay's newspaper La Nación for his role as an invited editor in the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (JESTPE). You can read more about it here.
April 2023. Prof. Rodas has published a Guest Editorial for the Special Issue on Integrated Control and Modulation for Electric Drives at the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics.
In response to the call for papers, 30 manuscripts were received, and 15 articles were finally selected for publication. The manuscripts were submitted from several countries worldwide, such as Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Finland, Germany, Iran, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and Spain. The 15 articles in this Special Issue cover various aspects of the selected Special Topic. Follow this link to read the Editorial, where each article will be briefly discussed.
March 2023. Are you a researcher or expert in the field of electric drives for electric/hybrid vehicles? Do you have innovative ideas for high-performance control techniques for electric drives? If so, Prof. José Rodríguez and I invite you to submit your papers to our special issue on "Modern Control Techniques for Electrical Drives", Sustainability MDPI (IF: 3.889).
As we move towards a world with renewable energy sources, the role of electric vehicles in mitigating air pollution and climate change is crucial. To meet the standards for electric and hybrid electric vehicles, we need to apply advanced control techniques for the electric drives used in these vehicles. This special issue aims to bring together researchers and experts to contribute to the field of control of electric drives by proposing sophisticated control approaches.
The major topics of interest for this special issue include but are not limited to, advancements in nonlinear control such as sliding-mode or finite-control-set model predictive control, advancements in control of power electronics for integrating distributed energy resources, design, analysis, and applications of modern control techniques for electrical machines, optimization algorithms, fault detection and fault-tolerant control of electric drives, and control of power electronic converter topologies for motor drives.
Take advantage of this opportunity to contribute to this important and timely topic. Submit your papers now to be part of this exciting special issue.
Follow this link to read more about this special issue. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/U6BI42S17
March 2023. Prof. Rodas was featured in Paraguay's newspaper La Nación for participating in the IEEE-CPERE conference in Luxor, Egypt. Here is the link to read more.
March 2023. Víctor Sebastián Gómez Valenzuela has completed his Master's Degree in Electronic Engineering with an emphasis on Power Electronics at the Faculty of Engineering of the National University of Asunción (FIUNA) after presenting his thesis entitled "Implementation of nonlinear control techniques for unmanned aerial vehicle flight. Gómez's master's thesis was developed under the supervision of Prof. Dr Jorge Esteban Rodas Benítez (FIUNA, Paraguay), and co-supervision of Prof. Dr. Osvaldo González (FIUNA, Paraguay), Prof. Dr Leonardo Comparatore (FIUNA, Paraguay), Prof. Dr. Maarouf Saad (ÉTS, Canada) and Prof. Dr. Yassine Kali (ÉTS, Canada). Part of the research was carried out during an internship at the Power Electronics and Industrial Control Research Group (GRÉPCI) of the School of Higher Technology (ÉTS) in Montreal, Canada, funded through the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP).
February 2023. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Energies (JCR Impact Factor 3.252 CiteScore 5.0 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Discrete-Time Sliding Mode Current Control for a Seven-Level Cascade H-Bridge Converter".
February 2023. Prof. Rodas has been the Keynote Speaker at the "20th IEEE International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals & Devices 2023", held in Mahdia, Tunisia.
February 2023. Prof. Rodas has attended and presented one paper at the IEEE Conference on Power Electronics and Renewable Energy: IEEE CPERE, held in Luxor, Egypt.
January 2023. Prof. Rodas is coauthor and corresponding author of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Machines (JCR Impact Factor 2.889. CiteScore 3.1 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Enhanced Power Reaching Law Based Discrete-time TSM Current Control of a Six-Phase Induction Motor".
December 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor and corresponding author of one (1) paper accepted in the Elsevier Hardware X (CiteScore 4.2 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Design and Validation of a Modular Control Platform for a Voltage Source Inverter".
November 2023. Prof. Rodas has been distinguished with the "Doña Nidia Sanabria de Romero" Award, Outstanding National Researcher Category, by the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE). The Tribute and Award Ceremony took place on November 22, 2022, on the Opening Day of the XI Researchers Forum. This forum has been declared of interest by the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), the Ministry of Education and Science, the Association of Private Universities, the Scientific Society of Paraguay, and the Ministry of Youth.
November 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Machines (JCR Impact Factor 2.889. CiteScore 3.1 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Winding Design and Efficiency Analysis of a Nine-Phase Induction Machine from a Three-Phase Induction Machine".
October 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor and corresponding author of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Energies (JCR Impact Factor 3.252. CiteScore 5.0 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Sliding Mode Current Control with Exponential Reaching Law for a Three-Phase Induction Machine fed by a Direct Matrix Converter".
October 2022. Prof. Rodas is the author of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE conference on power electronics and renewable energy: IEEE CPERE, Luxor, Egypt, February 15-17, 2023.
September 2022. Prof. Rodas has coauthored two (2) papers accepted in the IEEE International Conference on Automation /Congress of Chilean Association of Automatic Control: IEEE ICA-ACCA 2022, Talca, Chile, Oct. 24 - 28, 2022.
September 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Access (JCR Impact Factor 3.476 - Q1, CiteScore 6.7). The paper is entitled "Novel Self-Excited Brush-less Wound Field Vernier Machine Topology".
September 2022. Prof. Rodas was appointed Director of Research at the College of Engineering, Universidad Nacional de Asuncion (Paraguay).
August 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Canadian Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (JCR Impact Factor 1.606 - Q3, CiteScore 3.7). The paper is entitled "Sub-Harmonic-Based Self-Excited Brushless Wound Rotor Synchronous Machine Topology".
July 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor and corresponding author of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Energies (JCR Impact Factor 3.252 - Q3. CiteScore 5.0 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Model Predictive Control of a Modular 7-Level Converter Based on SiC-MOSFET Devices—An Experimental Assessment".
April 2022. As a visiting professor, Prof. Rodas joined the CITCEA research group at the Polytechnique University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain).
March 2022. Prof. Rodas was an invited speaker at the World Energy Council (WEC) Paraguay.
March 2022. Prof. Rodas was one of the speakers at the Seminar of the World Energy Council (WEC) Paraguay.
January 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the frontiers in Energy Research (JCR Impact Factor 4.008 - Q2, CiteScore 2.6). The paper is entitled "MPC With Space Vector Phase-Shift PWM (SV-PSPWM) Technique With Harmonic Mitigation Strategy for Shunt Active Power Filters Based on H-Bridge Multilevel Converter".
January 2022. Prof. Rodas is a coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (JCR Impact factor 6.373 - Q1). The paper is entitled "Model Predictive Current Control of Six-phase Induction Motor Drives using Virtual Vectors and Space Vector Modulation".
December 2021. Prof. Rodas received his M.Sc. degree from the Institute of Higher Strategic Studies, National Defense Council. Asuncion, Central, Paraguay. The certificate was given by the President of the Republic of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez.
December 2021. Prof. Rodas was one of the Keynote speakers at the 2021 IEEE CHILEAN Conference on Electrical, Electronics Engineering, Information and Communication Technologies (CHILECON).
November 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Access (JCR Impact Factor 3.367 - Q1, CiteScore 4.8). The paper is entitled "Speed Control of a Six-Phase IM Fed by a Multi-Modular Matrix Converter Using an Inner PTC with Reduced Computational Burden".
August 2022. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the frontiers in Energy Research (JCR Impact Factor 4.008 - Q2, CiteScore 2.6). The paper is entitled "Recent Advances in Model Predictive and Sliding Mode Current Control Techniques of Multiphase Induction Machines".
July 2021. Prof. Rodas is a coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics (JCR Impact factor 4.472 - Q1). The paper is entitled "Pareto Optimal Weighting Factor Design of Model Predictive Current Controller of a Six-Phase Induction Machine based on Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm".
July 2021. Prof. Rodas has co-authored one (1) Editorial paper at MDPI Energies (JCR Impact Factor 3.004 - Q3. CiteScore 4.7 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Control of Power Electronics Converters and Electric Motor Drives".
June 2021. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Energies (JCR Impact Factor 3.004 - Q3. CiteScore 4.7 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Algorithm for Implementation of Optimal Vector Combinations in Model Predictive Current Control of Six-Phase Induction Machines".
June 2021. Prof. Rodas chaired the "Control Design I" session at The International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (ICUAS).
May 2021. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (JCR Impact Factor 6.373 - Q1. CiteScore 14.5 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Experimental Stability Study of Modulated Model Predictive Current Controllers Applied to Six-Phase Induction Motor Drive".
Feb. 2021. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation & Measurement (JCR Impact factor 3.658 - Q1). The paper is entitled "Statistical Tools to Evaluate the Performance of Current Control Strategies of Power Converters and Drives".
Feb. 2021. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Energies (JCR Impact Factor 3.004 - Q3. CiteScore 4.7 Scopus). The paper is entitled "Discrete Terminal Super-Twisting Current Control of a Six-Phase Induction Motor".
Nov. 2020. Prof. Rodas is part of the team that was awarded the Paraguayan National Science Award, the most important award given to Paraguayan researchers. More information in link1, link2, link3, link4
July. 2020. The National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) awarded Prof. Rodas for a research project on Gs. 500.000.000.
June. 2020. Prof. Rodas is a coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Latin America Transactions (Impact Factor 0.804).
May. 2020. Prof. Rodas has been appointed Associate Editor of the Alexandria Engineering Journal, Elsevier (IF 3.696).
May. 2020. Prof. Rodas has been elevated to the grade of "Level II" by the National Researcher Incentive Program (Programa Nacional de Incentivo a los Investigadores - PRONII), National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT), Paraguay.
May. 2020. Prof. Rodas is a coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the MDPI Aerospace (Impact factor 1.57).
May. 2020. Prof. Rodas is a coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics (Impact factor 7.224).
Apr. 2020. Prof. Rodas is coauthor of one (1) paper accepted at The 2020 International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems: ICUAS'20, Athens, Greece, Sep. 01 - 04, 2020.
Mar. 2020. Prof. Rodas is a coauthor of one (1) paper accepted in the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics (Impact factor 7.503).
Feb. 2020. Prof. Rodas has two (2) papers presented at the IEEE International Conference on Industrial Technology: IEEE ICIT 2020, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Feb. 26-28, 2020.
Jan. 2020. Prof. Rodas attended as a representative of the Paraguayan Government at the Technical Meeting on Topical Issues in the Development of Nuclear Power Infrastructure, 28 - 31 January 2020, Vienna, Austria.