Roboteq Inc. has introduced the RGBL1860 and RGBL1896 Brushless motor controller for High-Power Brushless DC Motors. These featured-packed controllers can drive up to 500A at 60V, or 300A at 96V respectively. This very high power capacity makes the controllers ideal for Electric Vehicles, Material Handling Robots, Electric Boats or Agricultural Robots.

The controllers can operate in trapezoidal or sinusoidal commutation. In the trapezoidal mode, the controller uses hall sensors that are typically built into the motor. In the sinusoidal mode, the controller can use all types of rotor sensors, including Sin/Cos, Resolver, Hall Sensors, Quadrature Encoders, and SSI-compatible Absolute Encoders. In the sinusoidal mode, the controller uses Field Oriented Control in order to operate with optimal efficiency. The motors may be operated in open or closed loop speed mode, position mode or in torque mode.

The RGBL1860 and RGBL1896 feature several Analog, Digital and Pulse I/Os which can be remapped as command or feedback inputs, limit switches, or many other functions. The controllers accept commands received from an RC radio, Analog potentiometer, wireless modem, PLC, or microcomputer. Using CAN bus, up to 127 controllers can be networked at up to 1Mbit/s on a single twisted pair. Numerous safety features are incorporated into the controller to ensure reliable and safe operation.

The controllers’ operation can be extensively automated and customized using Basic Language scripts. The controller can be configured, monitored and tuned in realtime using a Roboteq’s free PC utility. The controllers can also be reprogrammed in the field with the latest features by downloading new operating software from Roboteq.

The RGBL1860 and RGBL1896 are available now at $795 and $990 respectively. Product information and software can be downloaded from the company’s web site at http://roboteq.com/index.php/component/virtuemart/373/rgdc1860-detail?Itemid=1488.