A RAPID-PROTOTYPING SYSTEM BASED ON STANDARD PCs WITH RTAI AS REAL-TIME OPERATING SYSTEM

Standard rapid-prototyping systems for real-time applications are usually equipped with x86-based PCs for software development and additional DSP processors to do the real-time work. Using a DSP always requires tools and compilers which in most cases must be purchased and are licensed by the vendor of the DSP, increasing the cost of the system. This paper presents a rapid-prototyping system based on a PC without using any DSPs. It consists of a standard PC with Pentium processor and a 19”-rack connected to the PC via an interface board. The different slots of the 19”-rack contain several plug-in cards (e. g. A/Dor D/A-converters) to connect the PC-system to any controlled system. All realtime tasks are processed by the main processor of the PC, which implies a real-time operating system. Using RTAI the performance of the system is sufficient for most applications of electrical machines and drive control. Experimental results obtained by the proposed system for a field-oriented control of an induction machine will be presented.