## 1 Introduction  
Electrical machines play crucial roles in industrial applications, and the demand for them is continuously increasing. The largest share of machines in the industry is occupied by Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSMs) due to their high power density, which is thanks to permanent magnets, and Induction Machines (IMs) because of their simplicity in construction and operation, as well as their minimal maintenance requirements. However, the scarcity of rare earth metals that are used in permanent magnets in PMSMs and the low power factor of IMs, combined with the significant losses in the rotor, have led the research community in recent years to explore new machine topologies to gain a stronger foothold in industry [1, 2]. Switched Reluctance Machines (SRMs) neither incorporate magnets, as found in PMSMs, nor feature windings or bars on the rotor, like IMs. These distinctive characteristics, coupled with their intrinsic fault tolerance, owing to their polyphase structure, high efficiency, and low core losses, render SRMs with a robust and reliable machine topology. Figure 1 illustrates the various topologies of SRMs. While a detailed discussion of SRMs falls outside of the scope of this paper, interested readers may consult the following textbooks for further information: [3; 4; 5]. These attributes make them particularly well-suited for operation in demanding environments, such as those encountered in mining and drilling applications, where extreme temperatures and pressures are present [6; 7]. However, due to their high saliency in both the stator and rotor, SRMs exhibit significant torque ripple and generate parasitic acoustic noise because of vibrational forces. These drawbacks render SRMs less suitable for high-speed applications, such as aerospace systems [7], water pumps [8], and superchargers [9], as well as electrical propulsion systems, like Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Hybrid EVs (HEVs), where smooth operation and noise reduction are critical [1; 10]. Optimization of the design process is the most widely employed strategy by researchers to mitigate torque ripple, acoustic noise, and the overall cost of the SRM structure. Through this approach, the desired objectives can be reduced, leading to an optimized machine that meets the specific requirements of its intended application [11; 12]. The design optimization process is generally divided into the following two main categories: design and optimization. In the first category, the objective is to model the machine's structure and operation, define the parameters and goals of the optimization process, and identify feasible candidates that represent the near-optimal performance of the machine. In the second category, optimization algorithms are applied to identify and evaluate the most suitable candidate from the aforementioned set. This is done by searching for a near-optimal solution using single-objective optimization [13; 14] or a set of near-optimal solutions, known as the Pareto front, in cases of multi-objective optimization [15; 16], within a predefined search space. However, certain applications, such as EVs and HEVs, necessitate a well-integrated drive system that includes the machine, controller, and power electronics, such as inverters, to function effectively [1]. Optimizing the machine alone does not inherently ensure optimal system performance, as its operation is ultimately governed by the controller. Certain performance metrics of the controller are critical for the smooth operation of the system and should be optimized through appropriate controller algorithms. These include the settling time, which determines how quickly the machine reaches and maintains the desired speed, and the overshoot, which quantifies the maximum deviation from the target value before the system stabilizes. For instance, in Ref.