A permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo drive for lightweight robotic platforms that have a high torque demand at low rotational speeds has been developed. First, a current-independent torque controller is derived and cascaded with a speed and position controller, while merely an encoder is used as a sensor device in combination with a speed estimator. Finally, the speed estimator output is compared to gyroscope measurements and the overall functioning is verified on a real system.
A current-independent torque equation for the permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) aiming at direct-drive servo applications is derived from a first principles model. Instead of measuring currents, all required control parameters are derived from optical incremental encoder measurements. The results are verified on a real system in test series showing the effect of static friction and proving the obtained torque model.