Case Study: Texas Instruments achieves FAST sensorless-observer characterization and a motor-testing tool with Altair (VisSim)

Characterization of Sensorless Motor Control Technology Using VisSim

Texas Instruments faced a challenge characterizing its FAST™ sensorless observer in the InstaSPIN™ FOC system because traditional dyno hardware was slow, required constant recalibration, and could not measure the electromagnetic torque estimated by FAST. To overcome these limitations TI turned to Altair and its VisSim simulation environment to model motor analog dynamics and digital control and to exercise the FAST observer running in ROM on TI’s Piccolo targets.

Altair’s VisSim solution generated C code, used a JTAG hotlink to run simulations synchronously with the target, and let TI set gains, offsets and motor parameters to compare FAST outputs against ideal values. The work produced a FAST Technical Reference Manual and the FAST “Exercizor” testing tool, enabling TI and its customers to validate FAST for any brushless motor without a physical motor setup and speeding development and testing; the Exercizor tool was slated for customer release in Q1 2016.

Texas Instruments

Dave Wilson

Senior Motor Systems Engineer