Real-time control of air motors using a pneumatic H-bridge

This paper presents an investigation into the real-time control of an air motor using the concept of a pneumatic equivalent of the electric H-bridge. A radial piston air motor is considered, ii pneumatic H-bridge is developed allowing speed and direction control of the motor. A PID control strategy is adopted to control the motor speed. The control strategy is tested by controlling the motor at high and low speeds. Experimental results show that a good level of speed control of the motor is achieved, and that both speed and direction control of the motor is feasible in real time with the pneumatic H-bridge concept. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.