Test Platform for Advanced Digital Control of Brushless DC Motors (Msfc Center Director's Discretionary Fund)

Book excerpt: A FY 2001 Center Director's Discretionary Fund task to develop a test platform for the development, implementation. and evaluation of adaptive and other advanced control techniques for brushless DC (BLDC) motor-driven mechanisms is described. Important applications for BLDC motor-driven mechanisms are the translation of specimens in microgravity experiments and electromechanical actuation of nozzle and fuel valves in propulsion systems. Motor-driven aerocontrol surfaces are also being utilized in developmental X vehicles. The experimental test platform employs a linear translation stage that is mounted vertically and driven by a BLDC motor. Control approaches are implemented on a digital signal processor-based controller for real-time, closed-loop control of the stage carriage position. The goal of the effort is to explore the application of advanced control approaches that can enhance the performance of a motor-driven actuator over the performance obtained using linear control approaches with fixed gains. Adaptive controllers utilizing an exact model knowledge controller and a self-tuning controller are implemented and the control system performance is illustrated through the presentation of experimental results.Gwaltney, D. A.Marshall Space Flight CenterDIGITAL SYSTEMS; CONTROL SYSTEMS DESIGN; ADAPTIVE CONTROL; ELECTRIC MOTORS; ACTUATORS; PROPORTIONAL CONTROL; MATHEMATICAL MODELS; FEEDBACK CONTROL; REAL TIME OPERATION; ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICES; PROPULSION SYSTEM PERFORMANCE; LINEARITY; FUEL VALVES