Trends in Motion Control Technology

Abstract

Motion control systems constitute the workhorses in today's automated industrial environment. The vital role of motion control systems is being felt increasingly due to the recent trends of computer automation of factories, homes and offices which is ushering a new era of industrial revolution.Electronic motion control technology has moved a long way since the introduction of power semiconductor devices in the middle of the nineteen fifties. In the course of its dynamic evolution during the last three decades, motion control has grown as a diverse interdisciplinary technology and embraces the areas of power semiconductor devices, converter circuits, electrical machines, control theory, and signal electronics. The frontier of this technology has been considerably expanded recently with the advent of today's powerful microcomputers, VLSI circuits, power integrated circuits, and advanced computer-aided design techniques.This paper gives a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art motion control technology. It reviews the salient technical features of electrical machines, power electronic circuits, microcomputer control, VLSI circuits, machine controls, and computer-aided design techniques, and wherever possible, the salient trends of the technology have been indicated.