Stability Control System for a Propeller Powered by a Brushless
DC Motor (BLDC) Codey M. Lozier Christian A. Thompson Advisor: Dr.
Mohammad Saadeh
Slide 2
Introduction Objectives Control Systems Lift Force Experimental
Setup Components Testing of Components Controller for One Motor
Controller for Two Motors
Slide 3
Objectives A brushless DC motor is attached to a propeller, and
fixed onto the end of a horizontal beam. A shaft will be fixed onto
the horizontal beam creating a 90 degree angle The opposite end of
shaft will be attached to rotary encoder. When the motor is
energized, the propeller will produce a lift force that will
stabilize the beam Every time the motor rises or falls the shaft
connected to the rotary encoder rotates This index value will be
used as an error signal
Slide 4
Control Systems Modify a system so it behaves in a desirable
way over time Arrows (signals) represent vector-valued functions of
time Basic Control System Plant Controller Sensor r- reference
input v- sensor output u- actuating signal d- external disturbance
y-measure signal n- sensor noise
Slide 5
Lift Force Of the four forces of flight, we are only concerned
with two: Lift and Weight Force [Opposing Forces] Lift Force must
be greater than Weight
Slide 6
The Airfoil The airfoil created by an airplane wing is just
like a propeller blade Air under the blade moves slower than the
air moving above the blade.
Slide 7
Initial Experimental Setup
Slide 8
Final Experimental Setup
Slide 9
Various Electrical Components Various Electrical
Components
Slide 10
Arduino UNO
Slide 11
Brushless DC Motor Fixed on shaft coupler Goal is to use
propeller to create lift force Electrically communicated Powered
using speed controller Commutation is induced through PWM
Slide 12
Modifications to BLDC Original Propeller could not generate
lift force Replaced with 8 x 4.5 carbon fiber propeller New
propeller generates desirable lift force
Slide 13
Brushless Speed Controller Electronic Speed Controller (ESC)
Powers Motor(17Vdc) Used in high power RC Systems Receives PWM
signals from Arduino UNO
Slide 14
YUMO Rotary Encoder Measures change in angle, direction, and
speed Produces a signal that represents an index or angular
position (1024 pulses/rev) Produces two signals that represent a
CW/CCW rotation of the shaft.
Slide 15
Rotary Encoder Shaft stabilized with pillow block Device is
fixed to table Encoder is interfaced with Data Acquisition
Device
Slide 16
USB4 Data Acquisition Device
Slide 17
LabView 2014 (a) Front Panel View(b) Back Panel View
Slide 18
Testing Components Micro Load Cell a force sensing element
Strain gauges are mounted in fixed locations Deformation of strain
gauges results in an electrical resistance
Slide 19
Testing Components Phidget Bridge o Contains 4 Wheatstone
Bridges o Amplifies signal sent from micro load cell (1) o USB
interface (2) o Demo Applications are provided o Users can develop
own applications
Slide 20
Micro Load Cell Calibration Used demo program provided by
manufacturer Preformed several trials Values produced were
stable
Slide 21
Video Demonstrations Here we will show you two videos The first
being one motor control system The second being two motors running
simultaneously and reacting to outside forces
Slide 22
Thank You For Attending Our 2014 Senior Project Presentation
By: Codey M. Lozier Christian A. Thompson