Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) testing has become a standard approach for motor controller development. Speedgoat test systems with configurable I/O modules and Simulink Programmable FPGAs offer a powerful and scalable platform to simulate motors and inverters in deterministic real-time. You can easily interface the virtual signals with your actual embedded motor controller. The demonstration focuses on a field-oriented controller algorithm deployed to a TI C2000 microcontroller controlling a PMSM with a two-level 3-phase inverter via CAN bus communication. We’ll demonstrate the entire workflow, from defining the controller requirements to setting up an automated HIL test environment. Ultimately, we’ll show how to validate the controller against the initial specifications.
Topics that we cover include:
- Deployment of an electric motor and inverter model to a Speedgoat test system
- Minimizing current ripples for better EMC and noise characteristics
Testing the microcontroller’s response to simulated inverter faults and other complex scenarios
- Demonstration of rigorous test automation covering changes in the controller algorithm, motor characteristics, or external conditions, including report generation
- HIL testing for validating against requirements