Motors and Motor Control Circuits (Coursera)

Motors and Motor Control Circuits (Coursera)

This is our second course in our specialization on Embedding Sensor and Motors. To get the most out of this course, you should first take our first course entitled Sensors and Sensor Circuits. Our first course gives you a tutorial on how to use the hardware and software development kit we have chosen for the lab exercises. This second course assumes that you already know how to use the kit.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

After taking this course, you will be able to:

  • Understand how to specify the proper AC or DC motor for a machine design.
  • Integrate the motor to a machine, based on analysis of motor equations for voltage, current, torque and speed.
  • Implement the motor and accompanying rotary sensor into a motor control circuit in both hardware and software.
  • Add a motor and motor control circuit into a microprocessor based development kit.
  • Create hardware and firmware to process motor feedback data to a microprocessor for further evaluation.

Course 2 of 4 in the Embedding Sensors and Motors Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
AC Motor Designs
In module 1 you will learn principles of operation of AC induction motors, both single and 3-phase types. You well then learn how to interpret data from torque speed curves, and how to optimize data in these curves based on electrical resistance, inductance, and capacitance. Then you will learn about different types of single phase motors, featuring a video analysis of a split phase motor used in a clothing dryer. You will also learn about typical applications for single phase motors, which will assist you in picking the right one for an application.

WEEK 2
AC Motor Control
In module 2 you will learn the details of AC motor specifications and enclosures, as well as how these details are governed by national and international design standards. Then you will learn a detailed methodology for researching design requirements for AC motors, and how to use these requirements to pick the right motor for your needs. Afterwards, you will have lessons on AC motor control components and systems, both manual and automatic. This will culminate in training for you on AC variable speed drives.

WEEK 3
DC Motors
In module 3 you will learn principles of DC motors, traditional brushed motors, as well as electronically driven brushless motors. We will discuss shunt wound, series wound, compound wound, servo, stepper, and torque motors, with detailed explanation of how commutation and control is implemented in these designs. We will have a lab exercise for you on DC motor speed measurement. We will have another video analysis for you, this time featuring teardown of a paper shredder. Then you will learn a detailed methodology for researching design requirements for DC motors, and how to use these requirements to pick the right motor for your needs.

WEEK 4
DC Motor Control and Stepper Motors
In module 4 you will start off with another lab exercise, this time gaining hands-on experience with DC motor control. Then, we will illustrate a simplified stepper motor drive, so you will understand the basic principles involved in stepper motor control. Next, you will do a deep dive into stepper motor specs, operation and commercial driver chips and packages. You will then do another lab exercise, this time on actuating a rotary sensor. We end the module with a comparison of DC vs. AC motors, so you take away a core understanding of their pros and cons.

WEEK 5
Course Projects
In this module you will perform your lab work for the Course. There will be two labs

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Introduction to Faecal Sludge Management (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Introduction to Faecal Sludge Management (Coursera)

Do you want learn how to apply concepts of sustainable faecal sludge management (FSM) on a city-wide scale? This course starts with an overview of what faecal sludge is and an introduces you to the engineering fundamentals and required information for the design and selection of technologies. Sanitation solutions are prone to failure if an integrated planning approach that includes stakeholder involvement and the development of appropriate institutional, management and financial arrangements is not implemented.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Mechatronics Revolution: Fundamentals and Core Concepts (edX) EdX
Georgia Institute of Technology,GTx

The Mechatronics Revolution: Fundamentals and Core Concepts (edX)

In this course, students will learn to harness the power of microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators to build useful and interesting robotic devices. The Mechatronics Revolution is upon us. Never before has it been easier to build robotic devices and computer-controlled machines. The confluence of low-cost embedded computers, sensors, and actuators has made experimentation and prototyping easier than ever.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Electric Vehicle Operation and Diagnosis (Coursera) Coursera
Starweaver

Electric Vehicle Operation and Diagnosis (Coursera)

"Electric Vehicle Operation and Diagnosis" is a course tailored to meet the increasing demand for professionals skilled in troubleshooting electric vehicles (EVs). Participants will gain a solid understanding of EV fundamentals, system operations, and diagnostic techniques. The course emphasizes environmental benefits and sustainable practices in transportation.

Sep 14th 2026
4 Weeks
Recent Advances in Freeform Electronics (Coursera) Coursera
Yonsei University

Recent Advances in Freeform Electronics (Coursera)

In this course, the learners will understand fundamental basic backgrounds of p-n junctions, diodes and MOSFETs (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors). Also, recent approaches on flexible / stretchable electronics, transparent optoelectronics, and printed electronics using one dimensional or two dimensional nanomaterials will be introduced.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Mécanique du point matériel (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Mécanique du point matériel (Coursera)

Pour illustrer les concepts introduits dans la première partie, on traite ici des problèmes pour lesquels le système mécanique peut être considéré comme un point matériel. Cette partie couvre notamment les problèmes à traiter en coordonnées cylindriques ou sphériques, le problème des orbites des planètes et les référentiels accélérés.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Sensors and Sensor Circuit Design (Coursera)

After taking this course, you will be able to: understand how to specify the proper thermal, flow, or rotary sensor for taking real-time process data; implement thermal sensors into an embedded system in both hardware and software; add the sensor and sensor interface into a microprocessor based development kit; create hardware and firmware to process sensor signals and feed data to a microprocessor for further evaluation; study sensor signal noise and apply proper hardware techniques to reduce it to acceptable levels.

Sep 21st 2026
5-12 Weeks
Fundamentals of Digital Image and Video Processing (Coursera) Coursera
Northwestern University

Fundamentals of Digital Image and Video Processing (Coursera)

In this class you will learn the basic principles and tools used to process images and videos, and how to apply them in solving practical problems of commercial and scientific interests. Digital images and videos are everywhere these days – in thousands of scientific (e.g., astronomical, bio-medical), consumer, industrial, and artistic applications. Moreover they come in a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum - from visible light and infrared to gamma rays and beyond.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Material Behavior (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Material Behavior (Coursera)

Have you ever wondered why ceramics are hard and brittle while metals tend to be ductile? Why some materials conduct heat or electricity while others are insulators? Why adding just a small amount of carbon to iron results in an alloy that is so much stronger than the base metal? In this course, you will learn how a material’s properties are determined by the microstructure of the material, which is in turn determined by composition and the processing that the material has undergone.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Mastering Statics (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Mastering Statics (Coursera)

Statics is the most fundamental course in Mechanics. In this course, you will learn the conditions under which an object or a structure subjected to time-invariant (static) forces is in equilibrium - i.e. the conditions under which it remains stationary or moves with a constant velocity-. You will also learn how to calculate the reaction forces as well as the internal forces experienced throughout the structure so that later you can properly design and size the foundation and the members of the structure to assure the structure’s safety and serviceability.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Nanotechnology and Nanosensors, Part 1 (Coursera) Coursera
Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Nanotechnology and Nanosensors, Part 1 (Coursera)

Nanotechnology and nanosensors are broad, interdisciplinary areas that encompass (bio)chemistry, physics, biology, materials science, electrical engineering and more. The present course will provide a survey on some of the fundamental principles behind nanotechnology and nanomaterials and their vital role in novel sensing properties and applications. The course will discuss interesting interdisciplinary scientific and engineering knowledge at the nanoscale to understand fundamental physical differences at the nanosensors.

Oct 5th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Energy Harvesting (Coursera) Coursera
Sungkyunkwan University - SKKU

Energy Harvesting (Coursera)

Joining this course presents opportunity to learn about energy harvesting that refers to a technology that converts the energy discarded in our daily lives into useful electrical energy that we can use. As we all know, most of low-power electronics, such as remote sensors, are driven by batteries. However, even when it comes to long-lasting batteries, they face an issue that is a regular replacement. It can turn out to be costly as there are hundreds of sensors in remote locations.

Oct 5th 2026
4 Weeks