Observer-based speed estimation method for sensorless vector control using artificial neural network

This paper presents a novel approach to sensorless vector control of induction motor drives. The method is based on an adaptive flux observer in the rotor-speed reference frame in which an artificial neural network (ANN) is employed to modify the estimated rotor flux to improve the performance of speed estimation. The adopted ANN is a feed-forward neural network identified off-line. It uses the backpropagation learning process to update their weights. The data for training are obtained from a computer simulation and experimental data file of a vector control system. Then, the estimated rotor flux is used in the speed estimation that will feedback to the vector control system. The proposed method has the advantages of better accuracy at low speed range and speed following under heavy loads. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method.