The basic architecture of a motion control system contains: • A motion controller, which calculates and controls the mechanical trajectories (motion profile) an actuator must follow (
i.e.,
motion planning) and, in closed loop systems, employs
feedback to make control corrections and thus implement closed-loop control. • A drive or
amplifier to transform the control signal from the motion controller into energy that is presented to the actuator. Newer "intelligent" drives can close the position and velocity loops internally, resulting in much more accurate control. • A
prime mover or
actuator such as a hydraulic pump, pneumatic cylinder, linear actuator, or electric motor for output motion. • In closed loop systems, one or more feedback sensors such as absolute and
incremental encoders,
resolvers or
Hall effect devices to return the position or velocity of the actuator to the motion controller in order to close the position or velocity control loops. • Mechanical components to transform the motion of the actuator into the desired motion, including:
gears, shafting,
ball screw,
belts,
linkages, and linear and rotational
bearings. The interface between the motion controller and drives it control is very critical when coordinated motion is required, as it must provide tight
synchronization. Historically the only open interface was an analog signal, until open interfaces were developed that satisfied the requirements of coordinated motion control, the first being
SERCOS in 1991 which is now enhanced to
SERCOS III. Later interfaces capable of motion control include
Ethernet/IP,
Profinet IRT,
Ethernet Powerlink, and
EtherCAT. Common control functions include: • Velocity control. • Position (point-to-point) control: There are several methods for computing a motion trajectory. These are often based on the velocity profiles of a move such as a triangular profile, trapezoidal profile, or an S-curve profile. • Pressure or
force control. •
Impedance control: This type of control is suitable for environment interaction and object manipulation, such as in robotics. • Electronic gearing (or cam profiling): The position of a slave axis is mathematically linked to the position of a master axis. A good example of this would be in a system where two rotating drums turn at a given ratio to each other. A more advanced case of electronic gearing is electronic camming. With electronic camming, a slave axis follows a profile that is a function of the master position. This profile need not be salted, but it must be an animated
function ==See also==