Optimal implementation of advanced control methods on FPGA targets

Abstract

Advanced control engineering methods have been limited up until recently to controlling complex processes, which justified the use of powerful computation devices. However, the current trend in engineering is concerned with the active management of engineering resources, by cutting down expenses and ensuring the premises for further development. Advanced control strategies offer increased robustness, high reliability and efficiency, but they require fast computation times and powerful numerical resources. Hence, the trend in control engineering should be directed towards developing and employing reliable and energy-efficient devices that support the implementation of the advanced control strategies. This would eventually lead to a more sustainable use of the available technological resources and a decrease of the energy consumption. The present paper offers a comparison between two advanced control strategies for a DC motor, both implemented on a FPGA device. The experimental results show that both control solutions are viable, robust and use very little resources.