The Use of Real-World Computer Models for Computer-Aided Design of Tracking Control Schemes for Induction Motors

The design of tracking controllers for induction motors is usually developed by neglecting the presence of power-supply devices, such as inverters, and measurement apparatuses, e.g., encoders. However, these components represent unmodeled dynamics that are present during the real operating conditions of the induction motor. Since the development of a numerical simulation study represents a low-cost, safe, and fast test to validate the design of tracking control schemes, the need arises to build a computer model of the overall system (i.e., motor, power supply, measurement devices, and tracking controller) as realistic as possible. In this context, the paper describes a computer model for simulation of an induction motor under a tracking control scheme including many real-world effects; namely, encoder's quantization, current sensors' noise, stator current dynamics, presence of a current-controlled voltage-source inverter within a stator current regulator loop, flux observer dynamics, saturation of the control signal, and discrete-time implementation of the control algorithm. The developed computer model is finally used in a case study and the simulation results obtained for an induction motor driving a single-link robotic arm under an H8 tracking control scheme are reported.