1. Distributed Control Architecture : Max. Four DSP + a Intel Pentium CPU

Instead of relying on one DSP or microcontroller to execute communications, control algorithms and other activities, ACS-Tech80's distributed control architecture devotes a separate,  up to four 120MHZ DSP(RISC-based servo processor by ACS-Tech80) for each axis to execute the real-time control algorithms and a 400MHZ Intel Pentium CPU(Intel-based motion processor unit (MPU)) to manage all other activities. This control design provides significant speed and performance advantages over other motion controllers and intelligent drives and allows the motion control tasks to be executed efficiently and seamlessly.

 2. MPU: Intel-based Motion Processor Unit (Intel Pentium® Processor)

The Motion Processor Unit (MPU) performs high-level tasks such as trajectory calculations, communications and I/O management tasks. The power behind the MPUs is Intel processors. Currently, there are two versions: an Intel 196 processor that calculates trajectories at 1kHz for the SB Series and the new Pentium® based MPUs (133-400 MHz) for SPiiPlus products that can calculates trajectories at 1-4kHz. The Pentium MPUs support preemptive multitasking programs which offers the simultaneous control of axes, I/O and time synchronization.

 3. PC-Based Control:

Based on the open standard of the personal computer industry, future advances in ACS-Tech80 MPU designs can be achieved thanks in part to the parallel advancements in PC processors, communications and other standard hardware. As future improvements in microprocessor speeds and reliability allow for the safe migration from hardware-based to software-based motion control, you can expect to seamlessly migrate your applications from ACS-Tech80 hardware-based to software-based motion control solutions.

 4. Preemptive Multi-Tasking:

The ACS-Tech80 SPiiPlus Series motion controllers are true preemptive multitaskers capable of performing simultaneous control of axes, I/O and time synchronization. The controllers are provided with 10 program buffers. Each buffer can execute motion and PLC programming and can interact with other buffers through global variables with sub-millisecond synchronization. In every MPU cycle (1/4 to 1 msec.), one line of each of the ten program buffers are executed.

 5. Servo Processor : 20KHz position control loop rate (independent of axis number)

Developed by ACS-Tech80, the servo processor combines a powerful RISC core that is optimized for motion control algorithms and all of the peripherals that are needed for implementing a complete motion controller, such as encoder counters, PWM outputs and drive commands. The sole task of the servo processors is to execute the real-time control algorithms, which executed at a 20KHz sampling rate, independent of the number of axes. It’s ideally suited for applications that require position and velocity bandwidths as high as 500 Hz and beyond, such as wire-bonders, die-bonders and SMT assembly machines.

 6. Advantages over Single-Processor Controllers:

Focused Tasks: ACS-Tech80’s distributed control architecture focuses tasks to specialized, individual processors. This provides unique advances such as a multitasking application programming language and offers an advanced, modifiable control algorithm.

No Performance Degradation: In single processor-based motion controllers, servo and trajectory update rates significantly degrade as more axes are added. Since an individual servo processor is devoted to one or two axes, performance does not degrade regardless of the number of axes.

No Performance Limitations: Based-on Intel's ever-evolving x86 platform, ACS-Tech80’s SPiiPlus motion controllers will provide more processing power to address the growing needs of your applications.