MPUs deliver fast, high-precision motor control

Renesas Electronics Corp. has introduced its highest-performance RZ/T2M motor-control microprocessors (MPUs) for applications such as AC servo drives, inverters, and industrial robots. The motor-control MPUs claim fast and highly precise real-time motor control capabilities together with the latest industrial Ethernet communication protocol and support for functional safety operation.

(Source: Renesas Electronics)

By integrating the peripheral functions for motor control, the RZ/T2M MPUs reduce the number of external components needed in the solution, which translates into lower bill-of-materials (BOM) costs and product size, said Renesas. In addition, by connecting the peripheral functions used for motor control to a dedicated bus linked directly to the CPU it enables the CPU to access these functions with low latency.

The RZ/T2M series is built around two Arm Cortex-R52 cores with a maximum operating frequency of 800 MHz. The MPUs also offer a large memory capacity (576 KB), which is tightly coupled with the CPU. This reduces the fluctuation in execution time that can occur when cache memory is used and also delivers deterministic, fast-response processing, said Renesas.

The MPUs support multiple industrial Ethernet communication protocols and next-generation time-sensitive networking (TSN) networks. In addition to industrial networking protocols such as EtherCAT, PROFINET RT, and EtherNet/IP, the new processors add support for the PROFINET IRT protocol. They also include an Ethernet switch that supports the TSN standard, allowing multiple devices to operate in precise synchronization.

RZ/T2M MPU block diagram. Click for a larger image. (Source: Renesas Electronics)

The RZ/T2M also eliminates the need for two additional external MCUs for safety monitoring in building industrial equipment. It has a hardware configuration designed for functional safety, so only one external MCU is needed, said Renesas. The MCUs can perform functional safety operation in parallel with motor control and network communication.

Later in the year, Renesas plans to release functional safety solutions, including a SIL3-certified software kit that includes a self-test software kit that enables failure self-diagnosis by the RZ/T2M, and a SIL3 system software kit for mutual diagnosis and software isolation functionality. The new RZ/T2M processors will be supported by the IAR Embedded Workbench for Arm Functional Safety Edition, which is an integrated development environment certified for functional safety-related development.

Renesas now offers a Winning Combination for a Motor Control System with Industrial Network and Functional Safety that combines the RZ/T2M with complementary Renesas components. It includes a high-precision current detection solution combining the RZ/T2M with an isolated ΔΣ modulator, a high-precision rotational position detection solution combining the RZ/T2M with an RS-485 device and photocouplers, a functional safety solution combining the RZ/T2M with an MCU for mutual monitoring, and an optimized power supply configuration. Renesas offers more than 300 Winning Combinations in its product portfolio.

The RZ/T2M MPUs are available now. An evaluation board, the Renesas Starter Kit+ for RZ/T2M, also is available for initial evaluation of the RZ/T2M.