Virtual Torque and Inertia Loading of Controlled Electric Drive

This paper presents a simple method to obtain effects similar to those obtained by real mechanical loading and real inertia variation but without any mechanical parts supplementary to the electric motor of the studied electric drive. The electric motor itself produces the load torque and the inertia variation using digital signal processing software. Therefore, the electric drive is virtually torque and inertia loaded, while its behavior is similar to that of the actual loaded drive. The present method could be used to test the implementation of control algorithms or for didactic purposes using motion control kits found on the market. The present method is used with laboratory works of the DSP Fundamentals in Power Electronics course at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.