High-quality torque control at zero and very high speed operation

This article focuses on the design and analysis of a direct field orientation (DFO) approach based upon a closed-loop loop rotor flux observer. The approach is ideally suited for applications requiring both zero and very high (i.e., several times base) speed operation. Such applications are common in manufacturing automation where both zero speed position control and high traverse rates with controlled position trajectories are required. Examples include robot motion control systems as used for assembly and the more traditional machining center axis control. The quality of the proposed approach is largely based on the unique structure of its flux observer. The observer effectively combines the best accuracy attributes of rotor flux indirect (feedforward) field orientation (IFO) and stator flux DFO. The parameter sensitivity is similar to IFO at low and zero speeds and to stator flux DFO at high speeds. The closed-loop structure of the observer provides a smooth transition between two open-loop rotor flux observers referred to as the current and voltage models in a deterministic manner set by the closed-loop bandwidth (eigenvalues). The proposed DFO approach is analytically evaluated in comparison with both IFO and stator flux DFO. Experimental results verify the viability of this approach