Abstract: (Sponsored by PELS TC 3)
Multiphase motor drives, which use more than three separate stator windings, are quickly gaining favor in aircraft propulsion, electric vehicles, industrial robots, and other applications where system safety is critical, and the value of fault tolerance and continuous operation is high. These systems distribute torque and current across multiple phases, allowing for soft degradation and compliance with strict reliability standards like ISO 26262 and DO-178C. Furthermore, multiphase drives create lower torque ripple and provide greater control over electromagnetic flux, resulting in smoother motion, higher power density, and improved heat distribution—all important benefits for weight- and space-constrained aircraft applications. However, the higher phase count poses several issues, including complex real-time synchronization across several current loops, a proliferation of sensor and power electronics channels (with associated EMI concerns), and potential thermal hotspots caused by uneven loading. Addressing these challenges requires advanced controllers that run powerful motor control algorithms and diagnostics. Critically, electromagnetic design and control development must take place concurrently. Co-designing winding topology, saliency profiles, and thermal limits alongside real-time control routines ensures that hardware characteristics inform algorithm choices (and vice versa), hence eliminating costly redesign cycles. In this webinar, I will introduce the fundamentals and benefits of multiphase architectures in safety critical domains; explore key design and control co-development strategies that optimize performance and reliability; diagnose common challenges—including fault detection and thermal management; demonstrate how CHIL, PHIL, and dynamometer testing integrate into a streamlined validation workflow; and share real-world case studies from multiple applications.
