How to ensure the motor control of your electronic product using sensors and actuators?

Motor control: at the heart of the product

In the aeronautics or automotive fields, actuators (which generate an action, a movement) can be placed in different locations to meet the required motor functions, for example in:

• a seat, enabling its movement
• an aircraft landing gear
• a fluid pump

The correct functioning of a mechatronic solution, a traction chain or even a robot, is determined by multiple criteria, including the sensor/actuator/motor control trio.

According to your use case and needs, our experts will help you choose the best motor: an AC (alternating current) motor, a DC (direct current) motor, a brushless motor (brushless direct current, permanent magnet synchronous motor) or a stepper motor. This choice depends on:

• the function,
• the power being used,
• the starting torque,
• the expected accuracy of the speed and position control,
• the desired maintenance,
• the total cost.

Depending on the chosen motor and system, sensors will be selected in order to measure some physical parameters (absolute or relative position, speed, current, temperature, etc.) required for the motor control.

The motor control theory makes it possible to generate the control low in accordance with the desired actuator movement.

Power bridge: the essential energy source

The engineers in our design center are skilled in power electronics, enabling conversion of electrical energy from a network (battery, grid, etc.) into energy which can be used by the motor. To ensure its efficiency, heat dissipation must be kept under control and temperature variations must be taken into account.

These different areas of expertise provide real assets, encompassing complex technologies often used in the aeronautics sector, as well as in automotive and industrial fields.

Control law: the key function for running a motor

The control law is the software component that controls the power bridge, which in turn controls the motor. This control law involves complex mathematical functions and determines the position of the motor, its speed, its torque, etc.

Each type of motor must be controlled differently. For example, the control law is quite simple for DC motors, but more complex for brushless motors (FOC: field-oriented control).

Control low (source : website MathWorks)

Our design office uses simulation software programs, such as MATLAB and Simulink, to model and simulate the motor with its regulation loops in its global environment. This makes it possible to anticipate the system’s reactions to external disturbances (obstacles, vibrations, disruptive torque, friction, etc.).

Our experts can also validate the system behaviour on motor benches (two twin motors, the first operating as a motor and the second as an active load).

To discuss your industrial project with our teams, contact us