Renesas Electronics Corporation, a supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, has released the RA8T2 microcontroller (MCU) group for motor control
The RA8T2 devices are based on a 1GHz Arm Cortex-M85 processor with an optional 250MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor, to address real-time control of high-end motors in industrial equipment, robots, and other systems requiring high-speed precision operation. The optional Cortex-M33 processor allows customers to achieve real-time control with integrated communication functions and non-real-time operation on a single chip.
The RA8T2 MCUs utilise the Arm Cortex-M85 processor and Arm's Helium technology to enhance performance for digital signal processing (DSP) and machine learning (ML) applications. The added performance allows AI functions to predict maintenance requirements for motors.
The RA8T2 MCUs also have high-speed networking support through several communication interfaces, including two Gigabit Ethernet MACs with DMA, a two-port EtherCAT slave, and others.
RA8T2 devices feature up to 1MB of high-speed Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM), a non-volatile memory technology, offering access speeds of up to 100MHz. Additionally, RA8T2 is equipped with a Tightly Coupled Memory (TCM) of 256KB for the Cortex-M85 and 128KB for the Cortex-M33.
Daryl Khoo, vice president of the Embedded Processing Marketing Division at Renesas, said, “The RA8T2 Group extends our long-term industry leadership in motor control solutions, offering unparalleled levels of performance and functionality. These devices showcase the breadth and depth of our technology and demonstrate our deep understanding of what our motor control customers need to build next-generation factory automation and robotics products.”
The RA8T2 devices feature a timer function that supports PWM functionality up to 300 MHz, facilitating easier handling by control software and efficient waveform generation for driving inverters. The complementary PWN function of the GPT timer is enhanced for inverter drive, making it simpler to implement control algorithms like the output of complementary PWM for various phases, automatic insertion of dead time, generation of asymmetric PWM, and linkage with AD and comparators. A phase-counting function is also equipped in the timer, allowing for the control of AC servos that require axis position information using a two-phase pulse encoder.
The RA8T2's ADC has a 16-bit resolution and a channel-specific sample-and-hold function (three channels), for simultaneous sampling of three-phase current values. This would mean there is no longer a need for corrective processing, lowering the software load and contributing to improved control precision.
With two units, it is possible to sample three-channel currents from two motors simultaneously. The Port Output Enable (POEG) and high-speed comparator function enable the rapid shutdown of the PWM output when overcurrent is detected. The shutoff state can be chosen based on the inverter specifications and can be set to High-Z, High, or Low.