Single Brushless DC Motor Controller

CR_BLDC_01

Chip Robotics Brushless Motor COnt

Description

Motor controller for a single brushless DC motor. Easy to communicate using USB or UART. The motor requires a 7 to 45V DC external power supply. The motor must have a hall sensor for it to work. Windows and Linux software available to get you started. Heat sink allows for continuous operation at 20A.

Key safety features include watchdog timeout, overcurrent protection, and USB electrical isolation to prevent damage to external components.

Specifications

Motor Type	Brushless with Hall Sensors
Min Voltage	7V
Max Voltage	45V
Max Continous Current	20A
USB	Yes
UART	Yes 3.3V
Regenerative braking	Yes
Control	Open Loop and PID Closed Loop Speed
Overcurrent Protection	Yes (Configure to 2A, 17.5A, or 45A)
Electric Isolation	Yes
Timeout	Yes can be configured

The brushless DC motor controller support various control modes, which are listed below.

Open Loop Speed Control – Hall Sensor

In the open loop speed control, the motor controller delivers power proportional to the motor command. The motor command can vary from -1000 to 1000, where 1000 corresponds to operating the motor in forward mode at the full applied voltage. A negative command corresponds to operating the motor in reverse direction. The controller applies the specific power using PWM.

In this mode, actual motor speed is not accounted and hence actual motor speed can change based on load or surface incline. This mode is suitable for applications where the motor is being manually controlled by an operator.

For the hall sensor open loop speed control, commutation events are driven by the hall sensor feedback.

Open Loop Speed Control

Closed Loop Speed Control – Hall Sensor

In this mode, you can control the motor speed based on output from the hall sensor. A closed loop PID feedback is used to control the motor speed at the specified motor command. The motor command can vary from -1000 to 1000, where 1000 corresponds to operating the motor at Max RPM. The Max RPM is a parameter configurable within the motor controller. A negative command corresponds to operating the motor in reverse direction.