Advanced motor-control tool with auto-tuning and self-commissioning capability

Microchip has announced the immediate availability of their advanced motor-control software plug-in for the MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with auto-tuning and self-commissioning capability. The plug-in, called motorBench Development Suite, is a GUI-based tool with automatic tuning of feedback control gains and offline accurate measurement of critical motor parameters such as resistance, inductances and the back EMF constant. This plug-in collects all the information relevant to the motor-control system and auto-tunes the control algorithm gains. The software then uses this information to generate MPLAB X IDE project code ready to run on the company’s dsPIC33EP family of DSCs. The generated code can then be reviewed and edited as needed and Flashed as motor-control firmware. The suite automates the time-consuming and complicated process of tuning the control loops for speed and torque to ensure that PMSM spin reliably. This initial launch is a game-changer for customers, allowing them to focus on other parts of firmware development and speed their time-to-market. The suite is currently available using their dsPICDEM MCLV-2 development board with an external op amp motor control PIM and a 24V three-phase brushless DC motor with encoder.