Electrical Engineering
The first-level discipline of Electrical Engineering evolved from "Railway Traction Electrification and Automation" (one of the first disciplines approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council in 1981 to confer doctoral degrees). In 2000, it was granted the authority to confer doctoral degrees as a first-level discipline. According to the national ranking of first-level disciplines in higher education institutions released by the Ministry of Education (2013), Electrical Engineering ranks eighth nationwide. It is also a key discipline in Sichuan Province, as well as a priority discipline under the "211 Project" and the "985 Innovation Platform for Advantageous Disciplines." The current academic leader is Professor Qian Qingquan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The discipline comprises seven second-level disciplines: Electric Machines and Apparatus; Power Systems and Their Automation (National Key Discipline); High Voltage and Insulation Technology; Power Electronics and Electric Drives (National Key Cultivation Discipline); Theory and New Technology of Electrical Engineering (Sichuan Provincial Key Discipline); Rail Transit Electrification and Information Technology; Electromagnetic Suspension and Superconducting Engineering. The discipline also hosts a postdoctoral research station in Electrical Engineering. It focuses on addressing major technological demands in high-speed railways, mainline electrified railways, urban rail transit, maglev transportation, electric locomotives/EMUs, smart grids, renewable energy generation, and power electronics, conducting fundamental theoretical and innovative technological research. Over the past decade, research funding has exceeded one billion yuan. The discipline has received more than 20 provincial and ministerial-level awards, including the National Science and Technology Progress Award (First and Second Prizes), National Teaching Achievement Award (First and Second Prizes), Ministry of Railways Science and Technology Progress Special Prize, Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Progress Special Prize, and Sichuan Provincial Teaching Achievement First Prize.
With distinct characteristics, the discipline leads the development of science and technology in rail transit electrification and automation. Graduates are highly regarded in the global rail transit sector, with 80% of China's current management and technical leaders in rail transit electrification and automation being alumni of this discipline. Upholding the integration of industry, academia, and research, the discipline directly serves the national economy. Key achievements adopted across the rail transit industry include electric locomotives and EMUs, integrated automation systems for traction substations, catenary inspection vehicles, high-voltage electrical test vehicles, and driver simulation training systems.
Control Science and Engineering
The first-level discipline of Control Science and Engineering is jointly developed by the School of Electrical Engineering, School of Information Science and Technology, School of Transportation and Logistics, and Simulation Center. It is a key discipline in Sichuan Province and was granted the authority to confer doctoral degrees in 2010.
The discipline consists of four second-level disciplines: Control Theory and Control Engineering; Detection Technology and Automatic Equipment; Pattern Recognition and Intelligent Systems; Systems Engineering. The discipline primarily studies control systems in engineering fields, employing mathematical methods and computer technology to investigate control strategies, system analysis, modeling, design, integration, and implementation. Its distinguishing feature lies in applying advanced control theories and simulation technologies to solve engineering challenges in rail transit and energy systems.
Notable breakthroughs include network solutions for quadratic 0-1 programming models and algorithms for finding maximum independent sets, analysis and synthesis of multi-rate digital control systems and online optimization algorithms for train automatic driving based on fuzzy predictive control and satisfactory optimization control, achieving internationally advanced levels. The discipline has earned a series of prestigious awards, such as National Science and Technology Progress Second Prize, Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Progress First Prize, Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Progress First Prize.
During the 12th Five-Year Plan, the discipline will focus on traditional strengths, such as rail transit, energy systems, and intelligent transportation systems, and emerging fields, such as robotics and natural computation. This expansion will further consolidate its leadership in control science and engineering applications.
