As power electronics and motor control technologies continue to evolve—driven by advances in electrified transportation, industrial automation, and smart manufacturing—engineering education is under growing pressure to equip students with both theoretical foundations and practical skills. However, traditional laboratory setups are typically closed systems with fixed topologies, limiting opportunities for students to explore the dynamic interplay among power electronic converters, control strategies, and motor behavior. To bridge this gap, we present a reconfigurable motor drive testbed based on an open-frame linear motor with an adjustable air-gap, capable of operating in synchronous, induction, and doubly-fed modes through modular, reconfigurable three-phase inverter control. The platform enables direct visualization and experimentation with essential power electronics concepts such as field-oriented control (FOC), slip frequency behavior, PWM inverter modulation, excitation schemes, and sensor-based feedback regulation. By supporting real-time data acquisition and vector control across multiple motor types, the system provides a comprehensive learning environment that links control theory with practical implementation. It functions both as a pedagogical tool for foundational motor instruction and as an experimental platform for advanced coursework in motor control and electromagnetic behavior. The ability to conduct comparative experiments under varying rotor excitation conditions allows students to grasp key differences in control approaches, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application. Beyond its educational role, the platform serves as a scalable research tool for validating control algorithms in linear motion drive systems. Representative experimental cases across all operation modes further reinforce the system’s effectiveness in delivering intuitive and structured experiential learning in power electronics and motor control.
For more on this article click here.