A Servo-Control System Using a Self-Controlled Synchronous Motor (SCSM) with Sliding Mode Controller

The application of sliding mode control for improving the dynamic response of a self-controlled synchronous motor (SCSM) based position servo system is presented. Sliding mode control gives fast dynamic response with no overshoot and zero steady-state error. It has the important feature of being highly robust, i.e., insensitive to plant parameter variations and external disturbances. A design procedure is outlined for the sliding mode controller for a servo driving using the self-controlled synchronous motor. A novel scheme for fast torque reversal is proposed and implemented. Digital computer simulation of the overall position control system is carried out using a time domain model in the d-q reference frame. The rigorous simulation of the servo system with sliding mode control shows the existence of limit cycles in the position response with certain type of speed encoder. Experimental results are provided for a 3-hp synchronous motor based servo drive. The sliding mode controller is implemented using a single-board microcomputer which controls a GTO thyristor current source inverter to drive the motor.