Real-Time Implementation of the Luenberger Torque Observer for an Induction Motor

Currently, the technology of high-performance variable speed drives without mechanical sensors is widely used in the industrial environment. This preference arises from the exorbitant costs and fragility associated with mechanical sensors. This investigation aims to establish, implement, and empirically validate a Luenberger Observer for wheel torque within an electric propulsion framework that employs induction motors. The proposed observer structure focuses on the complete dynamic model of an induction motor. Concerning the rotor fluxes, they are estimated using the electrical model. On the other hand, the torque is observed using the mechanical model. A real-time implementation was performed on a DSpace 1104 board designed for a 1.5 kW induction motor to verify the proposed observer's effectiveness. The experiment results show that the proposed method exhibits satisfactory performance, affirming its effectiveness and robustness and giving valuable insights into its practical applicability.