Helicopter deployable, dual-battery, high-voltage pulse transmitter system for time-domain induced polarization and resistivity (TDIPR) geophysical surveys - BC-1005

Genre de projet: Innovation
Discipline(s) souhaitée(s): Génie - informatique / électrique, Génie, Génie - autre
Entreprise: YGEOSCIENCE LTD
Durée du projet: Flexible
Date souhaitée de début: Dès que possible
Langue exigée: Anglais
Emplacement(s): Victoria, BC, Canada
Nombre de postes: 1 - 2
Niveau de scolarité désiré: DoctoratRecherche postdoctorale
Ouvert aux candidatures de personnes inscrites à un établissement à l’extérieur du Canada: No

Au sujet de l’entreprise: 

YGEOSCIENCE specializes in supporting global mineral exploration companies with 3D, Time-domain Induced polarization & Resistivity (TDIPR) geophysical exploration capable of very deep depth of investigation (2km). The company is leveraging its proven geophysical & geological expertise from the Oyu-Tolgoi copper-gold deposits in Mongolia and elsewhere. YGEOSCIENCE LTD is developing a helicopter-deployable, lithium-battery-based, high-voltage TDIPR transmitter system for use with intelligent electrode arrays to image the earth. This development will allow survey work in any terrain and anywhere in the world.

Veuillez décrire le projet.: 

YGeoscience is developing a helicopter-deployable, high-voltage pulse-power transmitter platform for deep geophysical investigation to depths exceeding 2 km below surface. The system enables mineral and resource exploration in remote terrain by delivering controlled precise high-voltage current pulses into the ground and measuring subsurface electrical responses.
The platform is built around a 62.3 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack delivering 60 kW nominal (80 kW peak) output across a 1–6 kV range under a 10.5% effective duty cycle — sufficient power for a normal field day of data acquisition. The modular architecture is governed by Interface Control Documents (ICDs) that partition the system into subsystems: the battery and HVDC bus, the pulse-forming and switching stage, the HV transformer and output network, and the controls, protection, and telemetry layer.
The university intern's primary development would focus on the pulse-forming, switching stage, and high-voltage output transformer. Also including controls, protection, and instrumentation subsystems. Key tasks include:
• Designing and validating SiC/IGBT-based switching circuits and pulse-forming networks (PFNs)
• Developing mode-control firmware for 60 kW / 80 kW software-selectable operation with duty-cycle limiting and event logging
• Implementing interlock logic (HV enable, ground verification, enclosure sensors, emergency stop)
• Integrating drone-based autonomous perimeter surveillance with automated geofencing and safety-triggered shutdown
• Supporting transformer RFQ validation through pulsed-duty thermal modelling and waveform fidelity analysis
The methodology combines power electronics hardware design, embedded control systems development, and UAV sensor-fusion integration, targeting a field-deployable prototype suitable for remote geophysical survey campaigns.

Expertise ou compétences exigées: 

Essential Technical Skills:
• Power electronics: SiC/IGBT switching circuit design, pulse-forming networks, snubber design, high-voltage PCB layout
• Embedded systems & firmware: Real-time control firmware development (C/C++ or equivalent), interlock logic, duty-cycle management, fault logging
• High-voltage engineering: HV transformer, HV insulation principles, partial discharge, isolation monitoring, LOTO procedures
• Battery management systems (BMS): LFP pack integration, BMS telemetry, contactor sequencing, IMD interfacing
• UAV / autonomous systems: Drone autonomy algorithms, sensor fusion (thermal + optical + RF), geofencing, real-time data pipelines
• Simulation & modelling: Thermal modelling of pulsed-duty transformers; SPICE or equivalent circuit simulation
• Supplier inspection capabilities
Software / Tools:
• SPICE-based simulation (LTspice, PSIM, or similar)
• Embedded IDE (STM32CubeIDE, Keil, or equivalent)
• MATLAB/Simulink (control system and thermal modelling)
• Git-based version control
• ROS or equivalent UAV middleware (asset)
Assets (Preferred):
• Prior lab experience with HV equipment
• Familiarity with ICD-based modular system development
• Field instrumentation or geophysics background (optional)