Design and force control of slotted tubular linear motor for active pedal

An active pedal is installed in the vehicle accelerator. Unlike mechanical pedal, it has an electrical motor generating counter push-back force against drivers´ foot press to give notices of the excessive gas consumption or emergency situation as the need arises. Since the linear motor needs no gears and shafts, it makes a simple active pedal structure compared with rotary motor. This paper presents a linear motor design scheme and a force ripple free control algorithm for the active pedal. The motor design is optimized to satisfy requirements; high force density and low detent force. The finite element method is used to analyze the motor. And considering the force ripple and reduction by non-uniform stator flux density, current profiles are developed for the active pedal with the hall signal and the accelerator pedal position signal. Experimental results are presented to verify the motor design result and proposed a force ripple minimization control method.