BLDC Motor control using FPGA and LABVIEW

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BLDC Motor control using FPGA and LABVIEW

• Author
• Gabriel ZSURZSAN

Scientific supervisor Prof. dr. eng. Aurel
GONTEAN
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Motivation

• Motors a basic component of our lives
• FPGA challenging but extremely flexible
• LabVIEW powerful and intuitive development
  platform
• Wii Remote adds a much-needed fun factor and
  freedom of control to the project

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The Hardware Platform

• Nintendo Wii Remote

• Hurst BLDC motor

• Motor Driver (partial schematic)

• Spartan 3E Starter Kit

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The Software Platform

• LabVIEW 2009 provides a comprehensive development
  environment allowing access to all the resources
  necessary in order to implement the present
  project, either in its standard form or through
  one of its modules
• FPGA Module
• PID Module

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The Software Platform

• LabVIEW greatly shortens development time

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Full project chain

• The WiiMote communicates with the laptop through
  Bluetooth
• LabVIEW uses a .NET framework DLL in order to
  initialize the remote and interpret the data
  received

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Full project chain

• LabVIEW FPGA module manages the programming of
  the FPGA, as well as communication between the
  host and target VIs through USB

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Full project chain

• The FPGA generates a PWM signal to drive the
  motor
• The Hall signals generated on the BLDC side are
  read by the FPGA, determining correct energizing
  of driver transistors and motor speed for PID
  loop adjustments
• PID feedback loop is implemented on the FPGA

Driver
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Interface

• Straightforward
• Intuitive
• Easy to use

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Some results
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Observations Conclusions

• Hall sensors are really noisy
• WiiMote accelerometer is very sensitive
• PID loop manual tuning is difficult and may take
  long

• WiiMote control is very intuitive, extra visual
  feedback added by the implemented 3D model
• LabVIEW allows for easily interpretable results
• PID response follows the setpoint accurately,
  giving no overshoot but a 10 undershoot

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My personal remark
It was FUN!