ANN based speed estimation for BLDC drives

• Main Authors: Godhia, Deepak, Namachivayam, Avinash, Annamalai, Chitra
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial neural networks; Brushless motors; D C motors; Electric vehicles; Microprocessors; Neural networks; Phase current; Resistors; Speed control
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0189903

This paper describes an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based speed estimation of BLDC drive using the three-phase current of the motor. The star point of three parallel resistors is used as the artificial star point of the motor. The comparators are connected to motor terminals and star point of resistors. This circuit determines the zero crossing of the back-EMF of the motor phases. Using zero crossing detection of the back-EMF with the estimated speed from the ANN, precise control of the BLDC motor is achieved, without the need for a sensor. The ANN is an offline trained network, trained using data obtained from simulations. The network is validated against different Inputs. The network is precise but at the same time simple enough to be implemented on a low-cost processor. The results are validated with simulations done in MATLAB using the trained neural network The findings and applications of neural networks to control the speed of PMSM are very well presented in the referenced papers, but the same for BLDC motors, especially those used in electric vehicles, have not been explored yet. The presented paper attempts to address the challenges and advantages of adopting this sensor-free approach for speed control in EVs.