FOC, shortened for Field-oriented Control, is an efficient commutation technique used to precisely and efficiently control the speed and torque of the motor. As the name suggests, FOC techniques orient the stator field perpendicular to rotor flux to achieve maximum torque.

Implementation of FOC can be highly complicated as it requires complex software and processing power to handle mathematical transforms and computations, such as Clarke Park, inverse Clarke, and inverse Park transforms. If position and speed are estimated sensorlessly from phase stator currents and voltages, the microcontroller must be fast enough to estimate the angle and velocity as the motor spins. This may require the use of real-time Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to pipeline these math calculations or implement large lookup tables while the rest of the transformations are simultaneously being calculated. High-precision encoders are needed for FOC applications that require high accuracy, such as actuators and robotic arms. Based on the resolution of the encoders, positions can be precisely controlled with minimum torque ripple.

To simplify the design process, TI's MCF devices in the MCx control family integrates code-free Field-oriented control into the motor driver. These highly integrated BLDC motor drivers eliminate the need to develop, maintain and qualify motor-control software, which eliminates months of design time. Additionally, MCF devices intelligently extract motor parameters, enabling designers to quickly tune a motor while delivering consistent system performance regardless of motor manufacturing variations. Because these motor drivers integrate sensorless technology to determine rotor position, they eliminate the need for external sensors, which reduces system cost and increases reliability.

For external microcontrollers, TI provides sensorless-FOC solutions through its InstaSPIN™ library. It allows users to be able to identify, tune, and fully control motor parameters through real-time 3-phase voltage and current monitoring. In addition, a user-tuned speed controller and field controller allows the motor to obtain optimal speeds than designed.