At 3 a.m., a storm of equations and scribbles later, Clara had a breakthrough. Remembering a chapter on synchronous machines and automatic voltage regulators (AVRs), she redesigned the system’s control unit. By using the book’s explanation of field-oriented control , she mimicked the natural inertia of wind patterns, smoothing out surges. The diesel generator’s integration? That required a clever use of phasor diagrams to ensure seamless phase alignment.