Simulink Control Motors — Motor Control Blockset Skill
Build motor control solutions using Motor Control Blockset (MCB): characterize motors, select control algorithms (FOC, DTC, six-step, V/f), compose Simulink models, tune gains, configure sensorless estimation, and generate code for embedded targets.
When to Use
- User explicitly requests motor control assistance or asks to load this skill
- User works with Motor Control Blockset or motor drive design
- Building, tuning, debugging, or designing motor control systems
- User mentions PMSM, BLDC, induction motor, SynRM, FOC, sensorless, six-step, SVPWM, flux weakening, MTPA, MTPV
When NOT to Use
- General Simulink modeling work that does not involve motor control
- Simple factual questions about motors (no model building needed)
Dependencies
- Required: Motor Control Blockset, Simulink
- Optional: Embedded Coder, Simscape Electrical, Powertrain Blockset
How This Skill Works
- Read
references/common/COMMON-mcb.md (shared conventions — always load first)
- Read
references/common/ROUTER-mcb.md for block routing and resolution rules
- Identify user intent using the routing table below
- Follow the matching section — each section points to detailed reference files
- Consult
references/configurations/ for non-FOC architectures (DTC, six-step, V/f, BLDC, ACIM)
- Use
references/common/mcb-examples.md for official MCB example references
Intent Routing
| User Intent | Section | Key Reference |
|---|
| New to MCB / learning | Designing | references/design/beginner-path.md |
| What pattern for my application? | Designing | references/design/application-catalog.md |
| Build a new model | Building | references/wiring/wiring-topologies.md |
| Configure block parameters | Configuring | references/block-config/block-configurations.md |
| Compute PI gains / tune | Tuning | references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Tuning |
| Generate LUT / FEA data | Nonlinear Data | references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Importing |
| Add sensorless (SMO, HFI) | Sensorless | references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Sensorless |
| Estimate Rs, Ld, Lq, J | Parameters | references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Estimating |
| Convert plant (MCB→Simscape) | Plant | references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Plant |
| Model errors / doesn't move | Diagnosing | references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Diagnosing |
| End-to-end workflow | — | references/workflows/ directory |
Quick Decision
Designing Motor Control
Recommends control strategies, selects patterns, evaluates feature compatibility.
Load: references/design/beginner-path.md for enquiry protocol and learning paths.
- Detect mode (Learn / Select / Validate / Enquiry) — see
references/design/beginner-path.md
- Search
references/design/application-catalog.md by user's keywords → get Pattern + Features
- Validate combination against
references/design/composition-rules-combining.md
- Review architecture details in
references/design/architecture-patterns.md
Critical rules:
- NEVER recommend Pattern A for speed control (structural instability with MCB discrete plant)
- NEVER recommend Sensorless Six-Step + BLDC AVI together
- Pattern B is the DEFAULT for standard speed-controlled FOC
Output: basePattern + features + motorType + controlMode → carry to Building section.
Building Motor Controller
Constructs complete models using wiring topologies, composition rules, and model_edit.
Step 1: Check for a Dedicated Configuration
BEFORE using generic wiring tables, check references/configurations/ for a matching file:
| Architecture | Configuration File |
|---|
| ACIM Indirect RFOC | references/configurations/acim-indirect-rfoc.md |
| ACIM Simscape RFOC | references/configurations/acim-simscape-rfoc.md |
| ACIM V/f Open-Loop | references/configurations/acim-vf-openloop.md |
| BLDC Hall Six-Step | references/configurations/bldc-hall-sixstep.md |
| BLDC Sensorless BEMF | references/configurations/bldc-sensorless-bemf.md |
| DTC (SVPWM) | references/configurations/dtc-svpwm-pmsm.md |
| Nonlinear Gain-Scheduled | references/configurations/nonlinear-gain-scheduled.md |
| Position Cascade FOC | references/configurations/position-cascade-foc.md |
| Overmodulation FOC | references/configurations/overmodulation-foc.md |
| HFI+SMO Hybrid | references/configurations/hfi-smo-hybrid.md |
| Dual Motor Sync | references/configurations/dual-motor-sync.md |
| Wind Turbine PMSG | references/configurations/wind-turbine-pmsg.md |
| ADRC Speed | references/configurations/adrc-speed.md |
| Backstepping Speed | references/configurations/backstepping-speed.md |
| Deadbeat Current | references/configurations/deadbeat-current.md |
| Sliding Mode Speed | references/configurations/sliding-mode-speed.md |
If a config file exists: follow it directly. Otherwise: proceed to Step 2.
Step 2: Generic FOC Wiring
| Pattern | Document |
|---|
| A, A+FF, A+PWM, B, B-Simple, C | references/wiring/wiring-topologies.md |
| D, E, F, G, H | references/wiring/wiring-topologies-advanced.md |
Step 3: Add Features
- Core (FW, SMO, GainSched, FF, Position, I/f):
references/wiring/composition-rules.md
- Infrastructure (Protection, PWM, Multi-Rate):
references/wiring/composition-rules-infrastructure.md
- Integration (Logging, Speed Profiles):
references/wiring/composition-rules-integration.md
Step 4: Set Structural Config
- PI:
ControllerParametersSource='internal', ExternalReset='none', InitialConditionSource='internal'
- Park:
ThetaInput='Electrical position', AngleInput='Radians'
- Unit Delay on voltage path to plant
Key rules:
- Always check
references/configurations/ FIRST
- Use wiring-topologies.md block lists verbatim (type strings are validated)
- Composition-rules operations are STRUCTURAL (affect port count) — do during wiring
- All structural changes go through model_edit
Configuring MCB Blocks
Sets mask parameters for 30+ MCB block types using motor datasheet values.
Reference files:
references/block-config/block-configurations.md — control blocksreferences/plants/block-configurations-plants.md — plant/sensor blocksreferences/block-config/block-configurations-utility.md — utility blocksreferences/block-config/block-configurations-bldc.md — BLDC blocks
Critical configurations (must get right):
| Block | Critical Setting | Wrong Default |
|---|
| FOC CC | Port 6 VLimits = [Vmax;-Vmax;0;0] | q-axis non-zero → drift |
| SMO | PositionUnit='Radians' | Default 'Degrees' → 57× error |
| Interior PMSM | P = pole pairs (not 2×p) | Double frequency → zero torque |
| LUT Control Ref | Hidden params: MTPA, FW enable | Defaults leave FW disabled |
Key rules:
- Mask param names ≠ motor struct fields — always check reference table
- Use
model_edit configure for setting parameters
- Single-precision plant outputs need DTC blocks before double-precision control
Tuning Motor FOC Gains
Computes PI gains, IIR filters, and PU normalization.
Full workflow: references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Tuning Motor FOC Gains
Quick summary: Use mcb.calcFOCGains(pmsm, inverter, Ts, Ts_speed) for all categories except Category A (kt/J > 10,000) which needs manual Ki_speed override. MCB uses Ki×Ts convention — never pass raw Ki.
Reference files: references/tuning/parameter-computation.md, references/shared/gain-formulas.md
Importing Nonlinear Motor Data
Generates and validates LUTs from FEA/measurement data.
Full workflow: references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Importing Nonlinear Motor Data
Quick summary: Use mcb.generateMotorLUT(pmsm, inverter, purpose) with correct purpose string. Validate trefVec symmetry and FluxDTable first row = 0.
Reference files: references/nonlinear-data/pmsmlut-structure.md
Building Motor Plant
Converts between MCB ideal plants, Simscape, and FEM-parameterized models.
Full workflow: references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Building Motor Plant
Quick summary: Solver must change to ode14x for Simscape. Add angle adapter Gain(1/(2*pi)). Gains need re-tuning after plant swap.
Reference files: references/plants/plant-model-converters.md, references/plants/block-configurations-plants.md
Estimating Motor Parameters
Commissioning workflows for Rs, Ld, Lq, FluxPM, J, B.
Full workflow: references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Estimating Motor Parameters
Quick summary: Estimate in order: Rs → Ld/Lq → FluxPM → J/B. Motor must be stationary for Rs and Ld/Lq. Feed results into mcb.calcFOCGains.
Reference files: references/estimation/estimation-procedures.md, references/estimation/estimation-to-tuning.md
Estimating Sensorless Motor Position
Configures I/F startup, SMO, HFI, EEMF observers, and handoff logic.
Full workflow: references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Estimating Sensorless Motor Position
Quick summary: SPM → SMO + I/F. IPM → HFI + SMO hybrid. ACIM → Flux Observer + I/F. Always set SMO PositionUnit='Radians'.
Reference files: references/sensorless/sensorless-blocks.md, references/sensorless/hfi-scheduler.md
Diagnosing Motor Control
Diagnoses errors, oscillations, zero-torque using structured checklists.
Full workflow: references/common/detailed-workflows.md § Diagnosing Motor Control
Quick summary: Identify symptom → run matching checklist → apply fix from auto-fix-recipes → validate. Never rebuild from scratch.
Reference files: references/diagnostics/auto_fix/ERROR_PATTERNS.md, references/diagnostics/auto_fix/auto-fix-recipes.md, references/diagnostics/model-sanity-check.md
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