A DSP-based adaptive controller for a smooth positioning system

The implementation of a self-tuning regulator for the positioning of a direct-drive servomotor is described. The servo motor is a permanent magnet DC motor in which no speed reducer is used. The auto-tuning regulator consists of two major loops. The inner loop contains a feedback (PD or PID) regulator with additional feedforward terms. The parameters of the feedforward compensation are adjusted by the outer loop, which contains an online parameter estimator. The estimator is based on a recursive least-squares equation, and the estimated parameters are the load inertia and viscous friction. This self-tuning regulator has been simulated with PC.MATLAB, and the results demonstrate the high performance of the scheme. Experimental results obtained with a small DC motor (Electrocraft E-576) are presented, and these results show good agreement with the digital simulation results. There are two innovative aspects to this work. First, parameter estimation is used to adapt the feedforward compensation terms instead of the gains of the feedback controller, as usually is the case in conventional indirect self-tuning regulators. Secondly, the complete adaptive controller has been implemented using a single-chip digital signal processor (DSP), which results in the reduction of system hardware and cost