TI Intros “Breakthrough” InstaSPIN-FOC Motor Control Technology
Motor control system designers can now concentrate on differentiating designs rather than spending weeks and months tuning their motor control systems. With the new InstaSPINâ„¢-FOC (field-oriented-control) solution from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI), designers can now identify, tune and fully control (through variable speeds and loads) any type of three-phase, synchronous or asynchronous motor in five minutes or less.
This new technology removes the need for a mechanical motor rotor sensor to reduce system costs and improves operation using TI's new software encoder (sensorless observer) algorithm, FASTâ„¢ (flux, angle, speed and torque), embedded in the read-only-memory (ROM) on TI's 32-bit C2000â„¢ Piccoloâ„¢ microcontrollers. InstaSPIN-FOC joins the previously introduced InstaSPIN-BLDC technology and will be followed with future InstaSPIN variations to make motor control development easier and more efficient.
Many industries have delayed the use and adoption of sensorless FOC motor techniques because of the lack of motor control system knowledge, despite the many system benefits these techniques provide. InstaSPIN-FOC eases development and reduces system cost and complexity for designers -- even those with limited motor control experience -- and enables premium solutions that improve motor efficiency, performance and reliability in all variable speed and load motor applications.
"The TI Piccolo microcontroller-based InstaSPIN-FOC solution gives us extremely robust, low-speed, high-torque performance that enables us to use quieter and smaller direct-drive motors without the cost or lowered reliability of a solution with a mechanical rotor sensor. The motor identification and auto tuning allows us to rapidly test new motors, and more importantly, to have a motor-drive system that just works. This allows our engineers to focus their efforts on innovation, such as additional rider enhancements possible with the unique, extremely high-resolution speed and torque signals from the FAST software encoder." stated Erwin Van Norel, electronic innovation manager, Royal Dutch Gazelle.
In traditional FOC motor designs, the use of a rotor sensor can impact a system with increased costs (sensor, power supply, special cabling and connectors, installation and maintenance) and potentially lower reliability (performance degradation in harsh conditions, electrical noise, temperature and humidity). In addition, using a sensor in many applications, such as an enclosed compressor or a large traction machine, is also completely impractical.
Features and benefits of InstaSPIN-FOCâ„¢ technology: Save months of design time with nearly fully automated identification and control tuning, allowing designers to differentiate their products with capabilities beyond full motor torque. Near encoder performance with embedded on-chip FAST observer algorithm calculating a reliable and robust estimation of flux, angle, speed and torque across use conditions. Accurate, sensorless "estimator" performance eliminates the need for a physical encoder in most cases.
Additional features include: The ability to accommodate all three-phase motors, synchronous (BLDC, SPM and IPM) and asynchronous (ACI) with the same solution. Identify and tune with off-line motor commissioning that identifies the needed electrical parameters of the motor, tunes the FAST algorithm, and initializes the current controllers for stable operation. An optional online resistance re-estimation mode which tracks changes for robust observer performance in the harshest use cases is also offered. Eliminate start-up challenges of other sensorless techniques with built-in start-up modes and observer angle lock in less than one electrical cycle. Slow speed performance with angle integrity preserved at steady state below 1 Hz (typical) with full torque, reversals through zero speed and stall conditions with smooth stall recovery. Gain flexibility with the ability to implement a single function call FOC torque controller (supports up to two motors from the same ROM) or a completely custom control system with FAST as the motor sensor.
It also enables users to: Achieve the most efficient motor sizing with built-in field control, providing manual or automated field-weakening (higher speeds) or manual field-boosting (higher torque) applications. Gain massive energy savings for induction motors using the PowerWarpâ„¢ mode, eliminating energy waste during times when torque is not immediately required. Develop easily and evaluate quickly using the new motor control library (modules, drivers, system examples, documentation through MotorWareâ„¢), which offers latest in C object-oriented and API-based coding techniques. Conduct lab instrumentation through TI's free, new GUI Composer tool.
InstaSPIN-FOC is available today on the production-ready, 90 MHz, 32-bit floating point Piccolo F2806xF microcontrollers starting at $6.70 USD per 10 Ku. InstaSPIN-FOC will be featured on several other Piccolo microcontrollers in the near future. Designers can begin their latest InstaSPIN-FOC motor designs with a low-voltage, low-current motor control kit for $299 (DRV8312-69M-KIT), low-voltage, high-current motor control kit for $299 (DRV8301-69M-KIT) or high-voltage motor control kit for $699 (TMDSHVMTRINSPIN). If designers have a previously purchased a TI motor control development kit, they can order the modular InstaSPIN(TM)-FOC-enabled Piccolo controlCARD for $99 (TMDSCNCD28069MISO).
