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    Sensorless speed measurement in induction motor drives using a double algorithm approach : a thesis submitted to the Institute of Information Sciences and Technology, Massey University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Information Sciences and Technology
    (Massey University, 2002) Phipps, William Stanley
    Sensorless speed control in induction motor drives is a new emerging field offering many benefits over traditional methods. The thesis examines a method of improving the performance of sensorless speed control systems using a double algorithm approach. The rotor slot harmonics are used to determine the speed of an induction motor. This is possible as the rotor slots produce slot harmonics in the airgap field, which modulate the stator flux linkage at a frequency proportional to the rotor speed. This method, however, has limitations, at low revolutions the harmonics cannot be detected. An empirically derived formula is used to determine the speed of rotation in the speed range where the rotor slot harmonics cannot be used. The rotor slot harmonics are located and the empirical formula determined for a given 0.33HP induction motor. The final proposed system uses both mentioned methods and is simulated to determine the theoretical performance. The speed detection algorithm using the rotor slot harmonics is also implemented, with good results.
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    Integrated sensor and controller framework : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Information and Telecommunications Engineering at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2007) Weir, Ryan David
    This thesis presents a software platform to integrate sensors, controllers, actuators and instrumentation within a common framework. This provides a flexible, reusable, reconfigurable and sealable system for designers to use as a base for any sensing and control platform. The purpose of the framework is to decrease system development time, and allow more time to be spent on designing the control algorithms, rather than implementing the system. The architecture is generic, and finds application in many areas such as home, office and factory automation, process and environmental monitoring, surveillance and robotics. The framework uses a data driven design, which separates the data storage areas (dataslots) from the components of the framework that process the data (processors). By separating all the components of the framework in this way, it allows a flexible configuration. When a processor places data into a dataslot, the dataslot queues all the processors that use that data to run. A system that is based on this framework is configured by a text file. All the components are defined in the file, with the interactions between them. The system can be thought of as multiple boxes, with the text file defining how these boxes are connected together. This allows rapid configuration of the system, as separate text files can be maintained for different configurations. A text file is used for the configuration instead of a graphical environment to simplify the development process, and to reduce development time. One potential limitation of the approach of separating the computational components is an increased overhead or latency. It is acknowledged that this is an important consideration in many control applications, so the framework is designed to minimise the latency through implementation of prioritized queues and multitasking. This prevents one slow component from degrading the performance of the rest of the system. The operation of the framework is demonstrated through a range of different applications. These show some of the key features including: acquiring data, handling multiple dataslots that a processor reads from or writes to, controlling actuators, how the virtual instrumentation works, network communications, where controllers fit into the framework, data logging, image and video dataslots. timers and dynamically linked libraries. A number of experiments show the framework under real conditions. The framework's data passing mechanisms are demonstrated, a simple control and data logging application is shown and an image processing application is shown to demonstrate the system under load. The latency of the framework is also determined. These illustrate how the framework would operate under different hardware and software applications. Work can still be done on the framework, as extra features can be added to improve the usability. Overall, this thesis presents a flexible system to integrate sensors, actuators, instrumentation and controllers that can be utilised in a wide range of applications.
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    The development of an electronically operated water control system incorporating a major theme of inclusive design : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Product Development at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Kersley, Andrew Hilton
    This case study followed the development of an electronically operated water control system, using a structured product development process and incorporating a major theme of inclusive design. Three project objectives were identified for this project: 1. Use the Product Development Process to successfully develop an electronically operated water control system to a stage that is near ready for manufacture. 2. To understand and implement an inclusive design approach to the development of an electronically operated water control system to ensure that the product is usable by people regardless of age or ability. 3. To understand to what effect design decisions, related to the usability of a product, have upon the desirability of the product to all users. The product development process used in the development of this product was successful. It resulted in an innovative new product idea that has associated intellectual property, currently under patent application. The product was identified as both usable to people with a wide range of impairments and desirable to a majority of all potential users. The research methodology relating to inclusive design resulted in the finding that some design decisions relating to the usability of products do in fact affect the desirability of the product to other potential users, and hence could potentially affect the financial success of the product. A set of activities were identified from the process used in this case study and recommended for further product development projects, which will help to ensure that the product is made more usable while still retaining its desirability. KEYWORDS Product Development Process, New Products, Inclusive Design, Consumer Based Design, Successful Products, Elderly and Disabled.
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    Switched reluctance electronic drive : reverse engineering to improve the quality and manufacturability of a commercial application : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Engineering in Electronics and Computer Systems Engineering at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
    (Massey University, 2012) Lusby, Michael John
    This thesis presents a new prototype for a low maintenance and high quality switched reluctance electronic drive. Switched reluctance machine technology describes a modern brushless electric motor topology that is perhaps the most simple of all rotating electric machines. However, a switched reluctance machine requires power electronic switching and sophisticated digital control to be a viable competitor against alternative electronic machine topologies. Commercial switched reluctance machine systems are normally designed and built by pairing the motor and the electronic drive together. This pairing increases the difficulty and cost of quality improvement. The motivation for this research is to improve the quality within a commercial switched reluctance machine electronic drive. This particular electronic drive suffers from repeated common modes of failure. To achieve this, an accurate understanding of the interactions between functional components of the drive is crucial to reducing this complexity. This reduction in complexity can be achieved through appropriate separation of these functional components. Reverse engineering the electronic drive provides the detailed information required to design a component separated prototype solution. The complexity of the electronic drive has been reduced by separation into power and control functional components; these components are present on separate circuit boards. This has reduced the complexity of investigating each circuit in detail and for isolating the cause of failures within each circuit. This has also standardised the necessary connections required between the power and control components should one of the circuits need to be redesigned.