BRUSHLESS MOTOR CONTROLLERS

September 2019 - January 2020, for MRover and EECS 373: Embedded Systems. A 2 kW (42V, 50A) brushless motor controller for robotics applications.

Schematic

eecs373_DriverBoard.PDF

Current Issues:

  • Gate driver (TI DRV8353RS) high-side charge pump cannot deliver more than 600 mA of gate drive current, which is not enough for the power FETs in use

  • 12V Buck Regulator internal to gate driver also often fails. Failure mode appears to be internal switching FET breakdown

  • Gate traces (between gate driver and gates) are longer than recommended

Next Steps:

  • Select a simpler, more robust gate driver

  • Select easier-to-drive gates


This project was, unfortunately, abandoned due to competing priorities on MRover.