Student project work in the design and modelling of weight-critical motion control systems

The paper describes an undergraduate student practical system study, involving the use of computer packages to design and simulate the drive components and power supply in a motion control application where size and weight are critical and electrical power is limited. The application is an elevating heavy platform driven by a brushless DC motor via a drive train that has a high degree of torsional flexibility. Comparisons are made with results obtained from a full-scale hardware model