Performance evaluation of platform-specific implementations of numerically complex control designs for nano-positioning applications

Developing machines capable of positioning and measuring in nano-metre dimensions is an overall challenging endeavour, which not at least includes providing a highly dynamic and precise trajectory tracking control system. To effectively employ such a control system an adequately performing implementation on an embedded real-time processing system is essential for process performance and quality. In this article an implementation study of a Kalman filter component is presented, comparing the solutions for general purpose processor and digital signal processor to a range of designs for field-programmble gate arrays. Evaluating the performance of the respective implementations for a PXI platform and thus indicating the feasibility of industrial and standard-compliant application is the emphasis of this contribution.