HRS Communications announced new motion control capabilities for its netX 90 multi-protocol network chip. netMOTION is a firmware-configurable communication solution with built-in motor control for applications such as networked factories and process control systems, assembly, packaging, and robotics. With netMOTION, developers can obtain real-time Ethernet connectivity and universal motor motion control in a single-chip solution, simplifying design and reducing material costs. Running on HRS Communications' netX 90 communication SoC, netMOTION acts as an interface between motion sensors and a real-time Ethernet network, providing a solution adaptable to various needs. It works with Hall sensors, encoders, and resolver position feedback for three-phase permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) and brushless DC motors (BLDCs). Supporting motion control applications and enabling the development of other general-purpose applications, the netMOTION development kit will be released in Q1 2021.
Electric motors perform essential tasks in factory automation and industrial applications; however, typical chip solutions for motion and motor control systems often lack real-time Ethernet connectivity, resulting in two-chip solutions at the PCB level and higher bill of materials (BOM) costs. For field applications with networking capabilities, embedded system designers often face the dilemma of which communication protocol to invest in: one with only a single network protocol or one with multi-protocol capabilities to serve different market segments and regions.
Using HISHUAN's netX 90 System-on-Chip (SoC) as the "engine," netMOTION comprehensively addresses these challenges. With netMOTION, HISHUAN's long-standing strategy of supporting multiple real-time network protocols through firmware configuration solutions has been extended to the motion control field, targeting a single PCB design for diverse market environments. The selected firmware determines which network protocols, motors, position feedback, and application profiles are supported. netMOTION comes with a universal control application to assist developers with initial designs.
netMOTION supports the design of field-oriented control (FOC) based motor control systems, including deterministic, low-latency, and network-synchronized control. It can be used with a variety of motion sensors, including Hall sensors, encoders, or resolver position feedback for three-phase PMSM and BLDC motors.
The netX 90 SoC includes the following:
Communication segment: The CPU features two communication (xC) channels, including switch functionality and IEEE 1588 capability, supporting mainstream industrial communication protocols (including PROFINET, EtherNet/IP, and EtherCAT). The dual CPUs isolate the application from the network for enhanced security.
Application areas: A second CPU with DSP and FPU support, and a set of on-chip peripherals for motion and motor control: MPWM, MADC, MENC, EnDat 2.2 and BiSS, and also supports enhanced GPIO with timers.
Shared features: Serving two market segments, including integrated firewalls, etc.
Data exchange is performed using an internal DPM (iDPM) interface with the protocol stack, eliminating the time latency of single-cycle CPU access. This virtual DPM includes up to 32 KB of SRAM with handshake unit registers and IRQ support, including hardware-assisted network synchronization generated by the xC trigger unit. The precise use of hardware-assisted synchronization depends on the feature set supported by the real-time communication protocol and the configuration of the underlying equipment for network connection with the PLC.
Built-in motion and motor control applications enable the FOC to provide position feedback and drive a three-phase PMSM or BLDC motor. The netX 90 host interface features the same dual-port memory mechanism and layout, providing scalable application design and offering a common standard network interface for coprocessor chip solutions or single-chip solutions.
