Didactic FPGA-in-the-Loop Scalar Fuzzy Control Setup for Motor Drive Education

Electric motor is a nonlinear plant whose dynamics depends on the operation point. Non-linear controllers based on artificial intelligence, such as Fuzzy logic, usually have better performance to control power electronics devices than linear controllers (e.g., PID regulators). Fuzzy controllers are applied in many power electronics applications and motor drives. On the other hand, many FPGAs are being used to implement motor drives control algorithms as a FPGA allows creating a customized control architecture and has fast processing speed. However, learning and implement Fuzzy controllers in FPGA for undergraduation students is a difficult task. This paper presents a didactic implementation of a Fuzzy controller in FPGA applied to scalar speed control of an induction motor. Scalar control was selected due to it has a less theoretical complexity that other control techniques such as direct torque control (DTC) and field oriented control (FOC). FPGA-in-the-loop (FIL) methodology was applied to test the Fuzzy controller: the controller was implemented in FPGA, and the inverter and motor was designed in a simulation software. Tests show that the methodology used to create the Fuzzy controller allows students to learn about Fuzzy logic and FPGA programming.