Introduction to Microcontroller Programming for Power Electronics Control Applications: Coding with MATLAB(R) and Simulink(R)

Microcontroller programming is not a trivial task. Indeed, it is necessary to set correctly the required peripherals by using programming languages like C, C++ or directly machine code. Nevertheless, MathWorks(R) developed a model-based workflow linked with an automatic code generation tool able to translate Simulink(R) schemes into an executable file. This rapid prototyping procedure can be applied to many microcontroller boards available on the market. Among them, this introductory book focuses on the LaunchPadTM F28069M board from Texas InstrumentsTM to provide the reader some basic programming strategies specified to the field of power electronics-based control applications. Starting from simple examples such as turning on/off on-board leds or how to manage a Pulse-Width-Modulation peripheral, the reader is guided through the settings of all these dedicated Simulink(R) blocks enabled for code translation. Then, the book proposes several control problems in terms of power management of RL and RLC loads (e.g. DC-DC converters) and closed-loop control of DC motors. The control schemes are investigated as well as the working principles of power converter topologies needed to drive the systems under investigation. Finally, a couple of exercises are proposed to check the reader's understanding while presenting a processor-in-the loop (PIL) technique to emulate the dynamics of complex systems.

Thus, this book is oriented to graduate students of electrical and automation and control engineering pursuing a curriculum in power electronics and drives, as well as to engineers and researchers who want to deepen their knowledge and acquire new competences in the design and implementations of control schemes aimed to the aforementioned application fields. Indeed, it is assumed that the reader is well acquainted with fundamentals of electrical machines and power electronics, as well as with continuous-time modeling strategies and linear control techniques. In addition, familiarity with sampled-data, discrete-time system analysis and embedded design topics is a plus.

However, even if these competences are helpful, they are not essential, since this book provides some basic knowledge even to whom is approaching these topics for the first time. Key concepts are developed from scratches, including a brief review of control theory and modeling strategies for power electronic-based systems.

Mattia Rossi is a Research Assistant at Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

Nicola Toscani is currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Milano.

Marco Mauri is an Assistant Professor in Electrical Machines and Drives at Politecnico di Milano, Italy.

Francesco Castelli Dezza is a Full Professor in Electrical Machines and Drives at Politecnico di Milano, Italy.