Lyle-led CellSafeIQ aims to make aging batteries safer

Much of the technology we rely on today, from electric vehicles and smartphones to medical devices and aircraft, runs on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

But as essential as they are, lithium-ion batteries have a flaw. Unlike a gas tank, a battery does not stay the same as it is used. Its capacity declines with age, and wear can make its behavior harder to predict and, in some cases, less safe.

Mahesh Krishnamurthy, the Vin and Caren Prothro Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has spent more than a decade researching ways to make safer, stronger batteries. With Mohammad Qasem, a Lyle graduate and postdoctoral researcher in Krishnamurthy's Advanced Sustainable Power and Energy (ASPEN) Lab, he set out to turn that research into a solution ready for industry.

"A challenge with batteries is that many of the things we care most about cannot be measured directly," Qasem said. "We can measure voltage, current and temperature, but questions like 'How healthy is this battery?' 'How quickly is it aging?' and 'Is it behaving normally?' are much harder. Those answers make a big difference."

CellSafeIQ is a Lyle-led startup with a central mission: to make the batteries we use every day safer, stronger and better equipped for life's challenges. Its AI-powered, age-aware battery management system, which Qasem calls the "brain" of the battery, monitors batteries across their lifetime and provides insight to guide their operation.

"Batteries change as they age — their capacity can decrease, and they may respond differently to fast charging, high temperatures or heavy use," Qasem said. "That means that a battery that was operating safely when it was new may behave differently a few years later.

"One question kept coming up in my research: Why should an older battery be managed in the same way as a new battery? As batteries age, their behavior changes. We believe the way they are monitored, charged and operated should adapt, too."

The researchers say age-aware battery management helps batteries retain more of their capacity through repeated charging while managing the mechanisms responsible for degradation. With CellSafeIQ, they hope to extend battery life and longevity in applications ranging from drones that fight forest fires to data centers and the electric grid.

CellSafeIQ is supported by the Spears Launch Accelerator, run through the Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership at SMU Cox School of Business. With that support, Qasem and Krishnamurthy are working toward their next stage of development: piloting the technology in data centers and exploring uses in battery-powered devices across industry.

"We're excited to see battery management move from reactive to predictive," Qasem said. "Instead of waiting until a battery reaches its limit or shows an obvious problem, we're using intelligent tools to recognize changes and respond earlier."

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

SMU's Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked teaching and research university in the dynamic city of Dallas, and a member of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU's alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.