Development of a Modular Mobile Robot Platform: Applications in Motion-Control Education

Electric drives and motion-control systems represent an engineering discipline that has rapidly developed over the last few decades. Today, high-performance motor drive systems have become the preferred choice in many industrial applications, and there is a strong interest to develop new control tools to further enhance their performance and intelligence. Motor drives are encountered in various industrial applications, such as rolling mill drives, traction systems, and robotics, covering the general field of motion control and mechatronics. With the recent advances in power electronics and microprocessors, digital control of motor drives has become increasingly popular. Nowadays, a microcomputer-based control system with digital-control strategies is an essential component for a high-performance adjustable speed drive system. This rapid technology change calls for the need to upgrade the standard educational methodologies in electric drives and motion-control systems to offer students a more flexible, effective, and up-to-date curriculum.