Modern motor control algorithms—particularly those employing Field-Oriented Control (FOC) with DQ0 transformations—demand precision, deterministic behavior, and rapid execution. These requirements are even more critical for electric and hybrid vehicles, where every watt-hour saved directly improves range and performance. Furthermore, the demands of functional safety of motor control units must be addressed where safety goals are typically classified with ASIL B and in some cases, ASIL D. This presents a unique set of challenges:
- Computational intensity: Trigonometric calculations (sine, cosine) inherent in DQ0 transformations are computationally intensive. Executing these efficiently within tight real-time loops is critical for optimal motor performance, power consumption (PPA – Power, Performance, Area), and responsiveness.
- Safety and reliability: For ASIL B/D systems, the software must behave deterministically and safely under a range of foreseeable conditions, including fault scenarios. Any deviation can have catastrophic consequences, ranging from vehicle performance degradation to critical system failures.
- Software complexity: As motor control algorithms become more sophisticated, the underlying firmware grows in complexity with the risk of introducing errors and potential security vulnerabilities.
- Development efficiency: The pressure to innovate rapidly must be balanced with the stringent requirements of automotive certification. Development teams need tools that accelerate the process while ensuring compliance.
We co-created this blog post with IAR. If you’re interested in learning more about how to tackle these challenges and drive innovation in the automotive industry, you can read the full article on IAR’s website.
