08/15/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/15/2024 07:19
Motor controllers are widely used in space applications for pointing, attitude control, deployment and other critical mechanisms required for the successful operation of a spacecraft. Developing products that perform these operations more efficiently and effectively on-orbit is essential to the space industry.
To address the evolving market demands for faster development, more affordable and high-performance products, Moog engineers designed and built a motor control system with a microcontroller that can accept spacecraft commands, implement complex closed loop control schemes, and be updated with software to change the operation for different motor types and applications.
Aaron Maurice is a Senior Systems Engineer for Advanced Programs at Moog and has worked on the motor control system for microcontrollers.
"The command interface for the microcontroller solutions is highly adaptable, supporting nearly any spacecraft interface. Microcontroller-based designs allow for the loading of new software without requiring access to the entire circuit board. This technology emphasizes a simplified board design while also being the most cost-effective option available in the market." said Maurice
Microcontrollers, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), and Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) are three types of technology used in motor controllers for space applications. At a minimum, the command interfaces of these controllers need to communicate the simple commands to move a motor such as when to move and what direction to go. However, each technology has unique nuances that separate one another.
ASICs are designed for specific tasks and require less support circuitry. They have established test and verification programs, making them reliable. However, developing an ASIC is expensive and involves designing, laying out, and fabricating a custom integrated circuit. ASICs have limited flexibility but can be cost-effective if existing designs meet the requirements.
FPGAs are commonly used in space applications for motor controllers. They are very flexible and can be configured for different commands and control schemes. FPGAs come in different sizes and with different features, making them suitable for both simple and complex designs. Some designs can start running almost immediately after being powered up. FPGAs can support complex interfaces, control multiple motors, and run multiple control loops. They offer high performance and customization but are more expensive, more challenging to update, and consume more power compared to microcontrollers.
Microcontrollers are like minicomputers on a single chip. They come with built-in bootloaders, RAM, non-volatile memory, oscillators, and many hardware peripherals. They provide communication links, interfaces for external memory, and converters to change signals from analog to digital and vice versa. Microcontrollers allow new software to be loaded without needing to access the hardware directly. They can control motors and adjust their performance while in space. Microcontrollers are easier and quicker to integrate for standard interfaces and cost less.
The space industry has trusted Moog as a reliable source for solutions that work every time. For microcontrollers, Moog offers a versatile and cost-effective alternative to FPGAs in designs that control one or two motors per board. They simplify the integration of command interfaces and feedback systems, making it easier to develop control loops that align with simulations. When working with designs that need two or more motors, microcontrollers can still be cost efficient by adding more boards to a system. Software development can start on a Microchip Development Board, migrate to a pin for pin compatible Software Development Unit and then directly transfer to engineering Model and Flight Hardware. This makes microcontrollers an attractive option for multiple motor controllers linked to a Single Board Computer to achieve a comprehensive movement solution. As spacecraft missions become more complex, the number of subsystems and components that need to be controlled and monitored increases. Microcontrollers meet those requirements by providing next generation motor controllers in spacecraft.
To learn more about our high performance data processing systems for the space market, visit Single Board Computer (SBC) and Cascade HPSC SBC. Discover solutions for motor and actuation-control electronics.
Interested in speaking with Moog? Contact us at [email protected]
Aaron Maurice
Senior Engineer for Advanced Programs at Moog
Education: BSE Aerospace Engineering University of Michigan
MSE Electrical Engineering Arizona State University
Hobbies:Running, Robotics