Pilot™, a low-cost motion processor from Performance Motion Devices (PMD), retains many features of the company's premier Navigator™ line, and offers single-axis control in a single chip. The MC3110, the first available of the new products, is designed to control brushed servo motors. The cost of this single-axis motion processor is as low as $28 in OEM quantities. The Pilot family of products also includes a single-chip motion processor for brushless servo motors.
The chip is a 132-pin device, surface mount CMOS technology and powered by 5 volts. The motion processor is driven by a host microprocessor through an asynchronous bi-directional serial port, giving users the ability to offload resource intensive motion control functions from the application's host. With over 130 commands, the MC3110 instruction set offers flexibility and versatility for application programming.
The MC3110 provides user-selectable profiling modes including S-curve, trapezoidal, and velocity contouring. Driven by the host microprocessor, the motion control chip accepts input parameters such as position, velocity, and acceleration to generate the trajectory. In addition, the chip also has a preprogrammed PID filter with feedforward velocity and acceleration that can be scaled and a bias offset. The MC3110 supports a 32-bit position error. Trace capabilities provide designers with on-the-fly data storage for analyzing system performance, tuning servo filters, and performing maintenance and diagnostics. The motion processor accepts feedback from an incremental encoder, or from an absolute encoder or resolver, to read the current axis position. In addition, the chip supports 16-bit DAC or 10-bit, 20 kHz PWM compatible output signals.
Multiple breakpoints offer precise sequencing and control of events by the application program. PLC-style instructions are provided which operate on inputs and set outputs. The instructions use Event, Activity, and Signal registers. Input signals include two limit switches (one for each direction of travel), home indicator, and a general-purpose programmable input. One general-purpose programmable output signal is provided. Eight general-purpose analog (0-5 V) and 256 (16-bit wide) general-purpose discrete inputs/outputs are also available.
Using Pilot chip-based, motion control solutions help designer engineers keep costs down while maintaining control over the project's design. With the Developer's Kit (DK3110), an integrated evaluation board and software package, development time is often reduced because applications programming can be initiated concurrent with board design. Full documentation and technical specifications are available online at www.pmdcorp.com.
