Motors, Actuators and Control
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of electric motors and various types of actuators critical for embedded systems. Students will gain an understanding of how DC motors, stepper motors, servo motors, and solenoids operate, including their electrical characteristics, mechanical properties, and typical applications. The course emphasizes the practical aspects of selecting, interfacing, and driving these components within an embedded system context. Building on basic electronics knowledge, students will learn to implement control strategies for motor speed, position, and torque using microcontrollers. Topics include pulse width modulation (PWM), PID control, sensor feedback, and driver circuit design. Hands-on laboratory exercises and assignments will provide experience in programming microcontrollers to interact with and control motors and actuators, troubleshoot common issues, and integrate these components into functional embedded systems.
Prerequisites
Course outline
Lectures, virtual labs, and graded assignments — completed in your browser.
Syllabus
### EMB 240: Motors, Actuators and Control **Course Outcomes:** Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Explain the fundamental operating principles of various types of DC motors, stepper motors, servo motors, and solenoids. 2. Select appropriate motor and actuator types for specific embedded system applications based on performance requirements. 3. Design and implement driver circuits for interfacing motors and actuators with microcontrollers. 4. Develop microcontroller code to control motor speed, direction, position, and other parameters using techniques like PWM and closed-loop feedback. 5. Analyze motor and actuator specifications and troubleshoot common electrical and mechanical issues in control systems. 6. Integrate motors and actuators into functional embedded systems, considering power management and safety. **Weekly Topic List:** * **Week 1:** Introduction to Motors and Actuators; Basic DC Motor Principles * **Week 2:** DC Motor Characteristics and Control: Voltage, Current, Speed * **Week 3:** H-bridge Drivers and PWM Control for DC Motors * **Week 4:** Stepper Motors: Operation, Phasing, and Control Techniques * **Week 5:** Stepper Motor Drivers and Microstepping * **Week 6:** Servo Motors: Construction, Operation, and Positional Control * **Week 7:** Solenoids and Other Actuators; Electromechanical Relays * **Week 8:** Feedback Mechanisms: Encoders, Potentiometers, Hall Effect Sensors * **Week 9:** Introduction to Control Theory: Open-Loop vs. Closed-Loop Systems * **Week 10:** PID Control Fundamentals for Motor Speed/Position * **Week 11:** Implementing PID Control with Microcontrollers * **Week 12:** Motor Selection Criteria and System Integration Considerations * **Week 13:** Comprehensive Midterm Review * **Week 14:** Final Review **Grading Policy:** * Knowledge Checks: 15% * Assignments/Labs: 30% * Quizzes: 25% * Final Exam: 30% **Required Materials:** * Textbook: *Microcontroller-Based Embedded Systems* (specific edition TBD by instructor) * Online access to course learning management system (LMS) * Development board (e.g., Arduino Uno or ESP32-based kit) * Basic electronics components kit (resistors, capacitors, LEDs) * Small DC motor, stepper motor, servo motor * H-bridge motor driver module (e.g., L298N) * Breadboard and jumper wires * Multimeter * Access to simulation software (e.g., Tinkercad, Proteus, or similar)