Open-Loop Speed Control of a DC Motor

Modern Control Systems Lab [Section: D] Experiment Report 01

Md. Shahadat Hossain SM Walid Turjoy Paul
Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
American International University Bangladesh American International University Bangladesh American International University Bangladesh
Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Shayek Badruzzaman Utsha Tasnim Ahmod

Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering Dept. of Electrical & Electronic Engineering
American International University Bangladesh American International University Bangladesh
Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh Dhaka-1229, Bangladesh
[email protected] [email protected]

speed. Comprehending these characteristics facilitates

Abstract: This experiment investigates the open-loop speed enhanced understanding into the benefits and constraints of
regulation of a DC motor by analyzing its response to varying open-loop control in actual situations. The experiment finally
input voltage. The system comprises a potentiometer, a power
evaluates the viability of open-loop speed control and its
amplifier, a DC motor, and a generator functioning as a
tachometer. The potentiometer provides a variable voltage (V1) possible ramifications in practical engineering systems.
to the power amplifier, which controls the motor's armature
B. Objective : The main aim of this experiment is to examine
voltage (Va). The motor's velocity is directly proportional to Va,
and the generator generates a voltage (V2) that corresponds to the open-loop speed regulation of a DC motor and assess its
the motor's rotational speed. The experiment is conducted performance under different input situations. This entails
under two conditions: amplifier gains of 1 and 5. For each gain ascertaining the correlation between the control signal (V1)
setting, the input voltage V1 is altered, and the resultant output and the motor's output voltage (V2), which signifies its
voltage V2 is documented. Moreover, the dead-band region, velocity. The experiment seeks to quantify the steady-state
when the motor fails to react to minimal input voltages owing to. open-loop gain of the system, delineate the dead-band area
Furthermore, the dead-band area, in which the motor remains where the motor is inactive owing to friction, and examine the
unresponsive to minor input voltages owing to friction, is impact of amplifier saturation on system performance. We
established. The system gain (V2/V1) is examined for linearity,
want to comprehend the effects of gain changes on motor
and amplifier saturation effects are noted. The results
demonstrate that at a gain of 1, the system exhibits linear speed and system linearity by doing testing at amplifier gains
behavior; however, at a gain of 5, amplifier saturation restricts of 1 and 5. The experiment elucidates the merits and
the motor speed beyond a certain voltage. The dead-band is drawbacks of open-loop control, notably its simplicity and
more prominent with lower gains and diminishes with increased cost-efficiency, while underscoring its vulnerability to
increases. The experiment validates that open-loop control is external disruptions. The results enhance comprehension of
efficient but constrained by nonlinearity and saturation control system design and its technical applications.
phenomena.
C. Literature Review: DC motor control is essential in
Keywords: DC motor, Op-AMP, Amplifier, dead-band area, Gain. automation and electromechanical systems. Nise (2020)
states that open-loop control systems function without
I. INTRODUCTION:
feedback, making them simple yet vulnerable to fluctuations
A. Background: The open-loop speed control of a DC motor caused by load variations. Open-loop speed control in DC
is a basic principle in control systems, often used in motors is extensively used in applications necessitating
applications necessitating accurate speed regulation without continuous speed without real-time modifications (Theraja &
feedback. This experiment aims to examine the behavior of a Theraja, 2018). The efficacy of an open-loop system is
DC motor under speed control in an open-loop setup. The dictated by the system gain, which delineates the ratio of
primary objective of this experiment is to analyze the output voltage to input voltage (Ogata, 2017). The dead-band
behavior of a DC motor under varying gain circumstances and phenomena, characterized by a motor's lack of response to
to assess the impact of input voltage alterations on motor minimal inputs owing to friction and system inertia, has been
speed. In contrast to closed-loop systems that use feedback thoroughly examined. Dorf and Bishop (2016) emphasize that
for dynamic performance adjustment, open-loop control dead-band effects may be mitigated by augmenting system
functions without feedback, making it simpler and more gain; however, excessive gain may result in saturation, so
economical, although vulnerable to fluctuations caused by constraining motor responsiveness. Amplifier saturation, as
external variables like load variations and disturbances. The delineated by Franklin et al. (2019), transpires when the
primary aims of this experiment are to ascertain the steady- output voltage attains its maximum threshold, inhibiting any
state open-loop gain of the system, delineate the dead-band further acceleration despite elevated input signals. This
area in which the motor remains unresponsive to minimal experiment corroborates previous results, illustrating the
input voltages, and examine the consequences of amplifier impact of gain variation on system response and nonlinearity.
saturation. We will perform experiments at two amplifier gain
levels to determine the correlation between the input voltage
(V1) and the output voltage (V2), which indicates motor
 II.METHODOLOGY 2 0.74 0.37
A. Apparatus List: 0 0 0.00
-2 -0.4 0.20
a) Enclosure/Power Supply 8846
b) Connections Leads and Accessories 8944 -4 -1.84 0.46
c) Potentiometer 9036 -6 -3.39 0.57
d) Power Amplifier/Phase Shifter 9039 -8 -4.81 0.60
e) DC Motor/Generator 9318
Table 2 describes the collection of experimental data where
f) Multimeter
the gain for op amp was set equal to 5.
B. Experimental Setup: Table 2 for Gain 5

V1 V2 Gain = V2/V1
4 9.2 2.30
3.5 9.2 2.63
3 9.2 3.07
2.5 8.7 3.48
2 6.9 3.45
1.5 5 3.33
1 3.1 3.10
0.5 1 2.00
0 0 0.00
-0.5 -0.7 1.40
-1 -2.7 2.70
-1.5 -4.55 3.03
-2 -6.33 3.17
-2.5 -7.9 3.16
-3 -7.9 2.63
Fig. 1. Experimental Setup for the open loop -3.5 -7.9 2.26
configuration. -4 -7.9 1.98
B. Graph:
C. Experimental Procedure:
a. Connect the dc motor, power amplifier and potentiometer The below graph illustrates the relation of V2 by V1 where
as shown in the schematic circuit diagram of Fig. 1 & 2. the gain of the operational amplifier was equal to 1.
b. Connect the biasing voltage of amplifier to ±15V DC.
c. Select the dc amplifier mode and set the amplifier gain
equal to 1.
d. Vary the potentiometer setting to obtain different values of
V1. Measure the corresponding values of generator output V2
and record your result in table 1.
e. Using those test results, plot V2 versus V1. This should
give a straight line, indicating that the relationship between
V2 and V1, is linear.
III. RESULTS

A. Data:
Table 1 describes the collection of experimental data where
the gain for op amp was set equal to 1.
Table 1 for Gain 1
V1 V2 Gain = V2/V1
8 4.36 0.55 Fig. 2. Excel Graph For table 1 gain equal to 1
6 3.74 0.62
4 2.24 0.56
 about open-loop control. The results indicate that while the
approach is appropriate for applications necessitating basic
speed regulation, its constraints should be acknowledged
when developing control systems that need accuracy and
flexibility. Future research may investigate the shift to closed-
loop control to enhance stability and performance.
V. CONCLUSION
The experiment effectively illustrated the fundamentals of
open-loop speed control in a DC motor and offered significant
insights into system behavior under different gain settings.
//The results validated that the correlation between the input
voltage (V1) and the output voltage (V2) is linear at lower
gain, although demonstrates saturation effects at greater gain.
A dead-band was noticed, whereby the motor fails to react to
little input signals, with its range diminishing as the amplifier
power escalates. Moreover, amplifier saturation was
Fig. 3. Excel Graph for table 2 gain equal to 5 recognized as a constraining element, limiting the motor's
C. Block Diagram: speed beyond a certain threshold. The findings highlight that
while open-loop control provides a straightforward and
economical method for speed regulation, it is deficient in
adaptation to external disturbances because it lacks feedback
mechanisms. This constraint renders it less appropriate for
applications necessitating precise control under fluctuating
load circumstances. The experiment confirmed theoretical
expectations, therefore confirming the fundamental principles
of control systems. In summary, the open-loop control
approach is efficient for fundamental speed control
applications but is limited by nonlinearity and external
factors. The experiment underscores the significance of
system gain and amplifier saturation in the design of effective
control systems. Future research may concentrate on the
Fig. 4. Open loop speed control of DC motor block implementation of closed-loop control to improve stability,
diagram. precision, and flexibility in practical applications.

VI. REFERENCE
IV. DISCUSSION [1] R. C. Dorf and R. H. Bishop, Modern Control Systems,
The experiment's findings illustrate essential features of 13th ed. Pearson, 2016.
open-loop speed control in a DC motor. The correlation [2] G. F. Franklin, J. D. Powell, and A. Emami-Naeini,
between the control signal (V1) and the output voltage (V2) Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems, 8th ed. Pearson,
shows a mostly linear pattern when the amplifier gain is set 2019.
to 1. When the gain is increased to 5, the system demonstrates [3] N. S. Nise, Control Systems Engineering, 7th ed. Wiley,
saturation effects, causing the motor speed to plateau despite 2020.
further increases in input voltage. This issue arises when the [4] K. Ogata, Modern Control Engineering, 5th ed. Pearson,
amplifier attains its maximum output voltage, limiting the 2017.
motor's reaction. The experiment also underscores the [5] B. L. Theraja and A. K. Theraja, A Textbook of Electrical
existence of a dead-band area, in which the motor fails to Technology: Volume II, S. Chand & Co. Ltd., 2018.
react to minor input signals owing to static friction. The dead-
band is more noticeable at lower gain but diminishes
dramatically as the amplifier strength increases.The obtained
data indicates that while open-loop control offers a simple
method for regulating motor speed, it is deficient in
adaptation to external disturbances. The absence of feedback
prevents the system from adjusting to load fluctuations, hence
limiting its practical use in dynamic settings. The experiment
further underscores the significance of amplifier gain in
influencing system performance. While increasing the gain
improves sensitivity and diminishes the dead-band, it
concurrently creates nonlinearity as a result of saturation
effects. The experiment confirms theoretical predictions