Hi there,
I am facing several problems with VESC setting up with a large drone motor.
My team wanted to utilize VESC's FOC function to increase motor efficiency.
If you can share us any idea, that would help us tremendeusly.
Problem 1
When we attempt to start the motor with duty cycle below 35%, motor would not start.
Below 35%, It stutters for a few seconds, and stops.
The motor starts to rotate when we give duty cycle around 40%.
Motor seems to be running fine when we give it a low RPM.
The reference video is linked below. FYI, the language in the video is Korean.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/fyvKyDeS1panePcm8
30 Second Mark: Starting motor with 20% cycle
45 Second Mark: Starting motor with 30% cycle
1:10min Mark: Successful start with 40%cycle
Problem2
The current measurement on VESC tool does not match actual current measurement.
The reference video is linked below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/siCcxNCHui5jJgW3A
1:30 min Mark: Monitor on the right shows around 18A, but VESC tool displays 53A measurement.
Problem3
Motor shuts off randomly. Maybe related to above problems
https://photos.app.goo.gl/siCcxNCHui5jJgW3A
2:25 min Mark: Motor shuts off by itself
The information of the motor and the detaction results are listed below.
The motor
238150 stator size, 100V, 40poles, previously worked with ESCs provided by the manufacturer.
The ESC
VESC 100V 250A
VESC Detection Result;
Motor current:161.52A
Motor R: 10.20mohm
Motor L : 15.47 uH
Motor Lq-Ld:10.44uH
Motor Flux Linkage: 7.94mWb
Problem 1 - It's unclear if you are using hall sensors. Seems like you are not, so you would need to tune the sensorless start a little better.
Problem 2 - Not a problem. just a lack of understanding. Motor phase current is not expected to match the DC/battery current always.
Problem 3 - Low resistance and inductance motors need a bit more tuning, trial and error to get them work reliably. Ideally, you want to use controllers with in-phase current sensors for better reliability but even low side shunt controllers may work with these motors, just not immediately after running detection. Try to lower the inductance value just a bit and see if it helps.
NextGen FOC High voltage 144v/34s, 30kw (https://vesc-project.com/node/1477)