Permanent magnet synchronous motor drives

The use of PMSMs is widespread and the related power electronic control has reached a good maturity. New hybrid (reluctance and PM) motor topologies are studied to provide motors with improved efficiency and self-sensing features. The use of these motors complicates the control algorithms and makes the availability of complete and reliable magnetic model unavoidable. Therefore, the modelling of complex system will probably take a large part of research activity in the field. Further technology steps will be the use of more powerful computing devices, as FPGAs, that in turn will smooth the way for both the direct voltage measurement and a more sophisticated signals filtering. Finally, the emerging energy awareness Permanent magnet synchronous motor drives is going to draw new paradigms, based on multi-variable control, for the contemporary optimisation of different power electronics and drive aspects. In perspective, the best candidate is the MPC, as soon as its online implementation will become technically feasible.