Motor control technology celebrates birthday with tool offer & updates

It removes the need for a mechanical rotor sensor to reduce system costs and improve operation and reliability using TI’s sensorless observer software algorithm, FAST™ (flux, angle, speed and torque), embedded in the read-only-memory (ROM) on select TI 32-bit C2000 Piccolo MCUs. 

“The response from customers regarding InstaSPIN has been tremendous,” said Chris Clearman, marketing manager, InstaSPIN motor technology, TI. “To watch an engineer go from incredulous, to captivated, to ecstatic in a matter of minutes is a wonderful feeling. Our team feels immense pride knowing our development of this technology is finally enabling optimum control of electric motors for so many different applications.”

Using InstaSPIN technology, designers can benefit by:

Saving months of design time.
Achieving near encoder performance
Accommodating all three-phase motors
Identifying and tuning with off-line motor commissioning
Eliminating start-up challenges of other sensorless techniques
Allowing most efficient motor sizing
Gaining massive energy savings for induction motors using the PowerWarp™ mode
Evaluating and developing quickly using MotorWare™ software infrastructure
Working in a variety of applications, click here to see them.

InstaSPIN solutions evolved over the year with new features continuously added. The most important update for the latest release – which works with existing silicon and motor kits – is a more robust motor parameter identification solution for asynchronous induction motors. 

“CoMoCo, the InstaSPIN-FOC-enabled motor controller, detects and calibrates the control to any connected electric motor,” said Frank Bakker, Contronics. “For ventilation, it provides constant air flow instead of RPM control – independent of changing pressures – without any sensors. For conveyors it provides instant self-sensed energy reduction. Congratulations to TI on a wonderful technology that provides amazing energy savings in all applications.” See the video

“The CoMoCo has drastically reduced the energy budget at my company,” said Hans Verhoeven, De Hoeve. “If you don’t make these investments then you literally burn away your budget, which would be a crying shame. Congratulations to the innovators - the CoMoCo with InstaSPIN-FOC and PowerWarp operates perfectly without sensors or mechanical diaphragm.”

“InstaSPIN-FOC makes it possible to have motor drive up and running very quickly, without extensive knowledge of motor commutation techniques,” said Erwin van Norel, Gazelle. “With relatively little effort, motor control is possible for a large variety of different types of motors.” See the video

Designers can use low-cost tools to begin evaluation and development of TI’s InstaSPIN technology. As part of a special birthday promotion, designers can enter to win a C2000 InstaSPIN-enabled tool (retailing at up to $699 USD) by taking an online survey. These tools include: 50V/3.5A DRV8312 based (DRV8312-69M-KIT), 24V/10A InstaSPIN LaunchPad and DRV8301 BoosterPack Bundle (LAUNCH-F28027F-BOOST-DRV8301), 60V/40A DRV8301 (DRV8301-69M-KIT) and 350V/10A High Voltage Kit (TMDSHVMTRINSPIN). Two controlCARDs are available either standalone (TMDSCNCD28069MISO at $99 and TMDSCNCD28027F for $69) or included in the compatible motor kits that cover 6-350V and up to 40Amperes. Multiple new C2000 LaunchPads, controlCARDs and motor kits are planned for 2014.

TI’s InstaSPIN-FOC and InstaSPIN-MOTION are available now and work with a variety of TI’s C2000 Piccolo MCUs, ranging from $4 USD to $12USD.