Distributed arithmetic for microcomputer implementation of control algorithms

The paper describes a method for implementing direct-digital-control (DDC) algorithms on readily available microcomputers using distributed arithmetic. With the use of distributed arithmetic, fast execution of the control program can be achieved on 8-bit microcomputers without loss of precision. A position control system for a DC servomotor is described to illustrate the distributed arithmetic technique. The control system is developed around Rockwell´s AIM-65 single-board microcomputer. A single-chip version of the position control system based on Intel´s 8748 single-chip microcomputer is also described. The AIM- 65 interpretive PASCAL proves to be a powerful feature that allows certain off-line computations to be easily implemented.