In addition to app notes, motor-control microcontroller vendors now include run-time libraries and interactive development tools specifically for motor control. This tends to be easier for development kits that are known quantities.

For example, a typical application combines a graphical front end running on a PC that communicates with the microcontroller using its debug interface, which is often the serial port. The front end permits designers to change any of the run-time parameters to see how they affect the motor's operation. Such applications are especially effective for highlighting features like ramping, which tend to be more difficult to experiment with when simply using a run-time library.

Fluke addresses another aspect of debugging with its 1587/MDT Advanced Motor and Drive Troubleshooting Kit. The kit combines a Fluke 1587 Insulation Multimeter, a Fluke i400 Current Clamp, and a Fluke 9040 Rotary Field Indicator into a single unit. The Fluke 1587 Insulation Multimeter is a true-rms digital multimeter (DMM) and an insulation tester. The Fluke 9040 Rotary Field Indicator enables the user to easily check the rotation of three-phase motors.

Trying to wring out the most from a motor and microcontroller takes a good understanding of both along with the software. For most applications, though, the standard run-time libraries are often more than sufficient, allowing the average embedded developer to handle motor-control development without too much effort.

Intelligent motor control is becoming more critical as time goes on. Motor-control microcontrollers have stepped up to the plate, offering small size and low cost. With software support improving significantly, minimizing the necessary expertise in motor-control applications, the question is why not use one.