## 1 Introduction
However, they require control gain reconfiguration when the operating conditions vary and exhibit reduced performance in nonlinear systems. Furthermore, they cannot ensure optimal control performance in systems that require a high dynamic response owing to their slow transient response speeds. SMC achieves robust control performance, but it presents considerable implementation complexity. It also faces a high risk of chattering owing to discontinuities in the control inputs. In applications that require high switching frequencies, SMC may increase the switching noise and losses. The FLC demonstrates excellent adaptability in nonlinear systems. However, designing fuzzy rules is challenging, and it involves considerable trial and error. The computational demands increase with the increase in the number of control rules, thereby potentially complicating real-time control. Additionally, the fuzzy rules may require reconfiguration when the system dynamic characteristics vary. Conversely, MPC can overcome the limitations of conventional control methods by determining the optimal control inputs by predicting the future system states. It maintains a high-control performance under various operating conditions. Recently, MPC has gained considerable attention as an inverter control method. However, conventional MPC approaches face various challenges. Firstly, a low switching frequency can increase the current error and total harmonic distortion (THD) [31; 32]. Secondly, increasing the switching frequency to improve the current error and THD can cause higher switching losses [28; 33; 34]. To address these issues, ref. [35] introduced a virtual voltage vector technique to reduce the THD. However, this approach increased the switching loss. Therefore, a new inverter control technique must be developed to maintain the current quality while reducing switching losses. In this study, we proposed an MPC approach that incorporates discontinuous switching and zero-voltage vector selection to overcome the switching loss problems. Based on the comparison of the current and voltage magnitudes, we reduced the switching losses via discontinuous switching in the regions where the current values were maximum. Additionally, we suppressed unnecessary switching by selecting the optimal zero-voltage vectors based on the polarity of the calculated offset voltage for discontinuous switching. The proposed method employed multi-vector approaches with virtual voltage vectors to improve the current quality. Simultaneously, we applied discontinuous switching to effectively decrease the switching losses. This dual approach enhanced the inverter output performance and efficiency by improving the current distortion and reducing switching losses. The proposed method was verified via simulations and experimental tests. These improvements help in optimizing the inverter performance and increasing the power conversion efficiency, thereby increasing the reliability of the entire electric propulsion system. The proposed Discontinuous MPC method presents more flexible operational characteristics than conventional inverter control methods and consistently maintains a stable performance across various load conditions. This helps in advancing eco-friendly ship technology and presents considerable potential for applications across several industrial sectors where power conversion plays a crucial role. The broad applicability of the proposed approach extends beyond maritime applications to other fields that require efficient power conversion systems. The remainder of this paper is organized as follows. Section 2 analyzes the limitations of conventional inverter control methods and MPC, focusing on current quality degradation and increased switching losses. Section 3 proposes an MPC that applies discontinuous switching, detailing the principles underlying the improvement of current distortion while reducing losses.