A virtual laboratory for power electronics and DSP based motion control

Modern power applications require faster, cheaper and better control systems, and the performance demanded from embedded controllers is ever increasing. Therefore, well-equipped digital power education platforms and laboratories are becoming significant demand to educate the next generation engineers and researchers. In this paper, a virtual power electronics and drives lab is presented for graduate or undergraduate power engineering programs and practicing engineers. These tools help the students to learn how to configure the peripherals of digital signal processor (DSP) for real time applications and control/manage the power digitally. As the main platform, the combination of hardware in the loop system (HIL) and DSP facilitate understanding the basics of digital power concept and comprehending the details of real time control. The software framework provides modular and incremental build opportunity for DSP programming in order to experiment gradually, from basic to advanced levels. The hardware-in-the-loop system and associated power electronics and drives simulation tool creates the plant which is controlled by DSP in real time. All of the experiments provide a user friendly and safe environment for the student while experimenting power electronic systems at various power levels.