Recent graduates of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the SBASSE, LUMS, Maniha Inam, Haider Ali Boocha, and Maham Faisal presented their research at the 27th IEEE Workshop on Control and Modeling for Power Electronics (COMPEL 2026), held at the University of Cambridge in July 2026.

Their paper, “A Resilient Battery Management System with Hybrid Balancing for Reliability-Critical Applications,” originated from their undergraduate senior year project under the supervision of Prof. Nauman Ahmad Zaffar and Prof. Ijaz Haider Naqvi.

The study addresses cell-to-cell variations in lithium-ion battery packs, which can progressively affect pack performance, capacity utilization, lifespan, and reliability. To address this challenge, the team designed and experimentally validated a Battery Management System (BMS) incorporating an advanced state-of-charge estimation technique to monitor individual cells and determine when balancing is required.

The proposed system employs a hybrid cell-balancing strategy, combining active and passive balancing. Active balancing transfers energy between the selected cell and the battery pack, while passive balancing dissipates excess energy. The BMS dynamically selects the appropriate balancing method based on the direction and severity of cell imbalance, enabling more targeted management of battery-cell conditions.

The approach has potential applications in reliability critical energy systems, where battery safety, longevity, and uninterrupted operation are essential. The work reflects the strength of undergraduate research at LUMS in addressing emerging challenges in power electronics and battery systems.