Multidisciplinary DSP-Based Control Project

Traditional design and development procedures to produce a complete variable speed drive system typically involve at least, an electrical machine engineer, electronic engineer, programmer and possibly a control engineer. Communication delays between project team members and a lack of understanding of how the technologies interact, may result in a system that is delivered late, is inefficient or not easy to modify. This situation would be less likely to arise if all members of the team were educated and experienced in team and project organisation. This paper describes a group-based project laboratory for undergraduate technology students at Massey University. The project investigates the use of Digital Signal Processor (DSP) to control the speed of a DC motor. This undergraduate laboratory is an important teaching tool of exemplifying many engineering principles and introducing student to “real-life” practicalities in the area of industrial automation. It represents a typical modern industrial team project where several different technologies are involved and a variety of skills are required. The project offers the students a challenge involving many new ideas and concepts. It also gives them knowledge and new practical skills in the design and development of various technologies and how they interact to make a complete variable speed drive system.