Title: Intelligent adjustable-speed drive on an FPGA

Authors: Azzouz Benzekri

Addresses: Signals and Systems Laboratory, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University M'Hamed Bougara Boumerdes, 35000, Algeria

Abstract: This paper addresses the design, simulation and implementation of a PI-like fuzzy controller to adjust the velocity of an armature-controlled DC motor using hardware/software co-design. Fuzzy control and digital pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques are used as computational solution, while the implementation is carried on a reconfigurable hardware platform. This controller is designed with four considerations in mind: design integration, robustness, reduced complexity and flexibility. Computationally intensive tasks are implemented as hardware accelerators using VHDL, data flow and control are implemented in software using system-on-programmable-chip (SoPC) approach. With this paradigm, we get the robustness of fuzzy control, the best of software programmability of Nios®-II and the hardware reconfigurability of the FPGA. The model was synthesised using Quartus®II and targeted at a Cyclone-II FPGA. Computer simulation results show the effectiveness and merit of this process. The real-time applicability of this controller is exemplified on a motor provided with a tachogenerator mounted on its shaft.

Keywords: field programmable gate array; FPGA; Nios® II; VHDL; hardware/software co-design; adjustable-speed drive; PWM; PI-like fuzzy controller; system-on-programmable-chip; SoPC; armature-controlled; Quartus II.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPELEC.2022.124695

International Journal of Power Electronics, 2022 Vol.16 No.2, pp.180 - 200

Received: 20 Jan 2020
Accepted: 14 Aug 2020
Published online: 08 Aug 2022 *

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