Literature reviewed based on the problems
There are several resources and information that i had already retrieved to improve my understanding related to my project. These information came from reliable sources such as Google Scholar, faculty library and also from previous thesis. It is important to obtain reliable information as it will result in the progress of my particular project.
These are several of my resources :
- Design implementation of high performance DC motor drive, K. Mehta et al, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, 2014.
- Isolated gate drivers - what, why and how ?, Sanket Sapre, Analog Devices, 2018.
- Main application and selection of gate driver optocouplers, Avago Tevhnologies, 2010.
Scope of work
The main scope of this project is hardware development which is associated to the gate driver including the protection circuit applied to control the speed of a brushed DC motor of an electric skateboard.
- Design a gate driver circuit to control the switching of the power MOSFET.
- Implement a protection or current limiter circuit as the circuit protection especially for the MOSFET.
- Troubleshoot the devices and circuit connection in the whole system to provide suitable information for the analysis.
- Integrating the radio frequency controller with the control circuit.
The next work scope is about simulation process throughout my entire project.
- Design a gate driver circuit using simulation software such as MATLAB, NI Multisim and Proteus 8 Professional.
- Develop codes in Arduino IDE for the radio frequency controller and ensure the controller works well with the electric skateboard.
Work flow
Hardware requirement
These are several hardware expected to be used in my project with my current progress :
IRFZ44N MOSFET
4N25 optocoupler MOSFET gate driver
Resistors
Capacitors
Diodes
Voltage regulator with 5V output
Software requirement
For detailed analysis and hardware simulation of my project, i have used several software that were widely applied for the circuit analysis :
- National Instruments Multisim.
- MATLAB.
- Proteus 8 Professional.
- Arduino IDE
National Instruments Multisim provide me with detailed information and analysis on my circuit with detailed components available in its library. It will strengthen my understanding on how to improve the gate driver circuit as it is part of my FYP. Furthermore, MATLAB simulation provide me with simple circuit simulation and it ease me with the circuit connection of my gate driver. MATLAB does not provide detailed components with its datasheet on my circuit but it still useful as a tool for simulation. Lastly, Proteus 8 Professional used to design a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for my circuit.
Knowledge and skills required to complete the project
Knowledge and skills required upon completing this FYP project is mainly on hardware implementation and some about Arduino programming to apply the radio frequency controller on the electric skateboard. For the hardware perspective, i need to possess a knowledge on how to select the suitable components that will be installed on my circuit. For example when i need to design a new gate driver circuit, i have to determine the suitable power MOSFET that wiil compliance with the driver and the whole system so that it can function properly as desired. Besides, for the software perspective, i have to learn and applied Arduino programming code into the Arduino IDE for the PWM design. Through PWM technique, the average voltage supplied to the motor can be regulates digitally hence the speed of the motor can be controlled.