The role of co-simulation in the integrated design of high-dynamics servomechanisms: an experimental evaluation

This paper reports about the design and modeling process of high performance servo-actuated mechanisms for automatic machines. Besides being a delicate and time consuming process, coupled simulations based on virtual prototyping finally offer the chance to integrate engineering methods proper of control system engineering and mechanical design. In particular, the main target of this work is to investigate how different virtual prototyping approaches, each having increasing level of detail, can contribute to the appropriate prediction of the expected machine performance.These results are then compared with experimental data obtained on a real servomechanism prototype. The comparison quantitatively demonstrate the improvement on torque prediction and position error reduction when detailed models of the controller and the electric motor dynamics are coupled with the mechanical system model.