This demo showcases the control of vehicle comfort motor systems using embedded peripherals. It operates a fan and a stepper motor based on button input conditions, while providing real-time feedback on speed and direction through PWM control and full-step coil sequencing. The example illustrates how automotive motor control principles are applied to key vehicle functions, such as electric window operation (up/down maneuvering) and cooling system regulation, emphasizing directional control and step-mode operation.
This example was developed using the FRDM Automotive Bundle for S32K3 + S32M27. To download and install the complete software and tools ecosystem, use the following link:
- Personal Computer
- Type-C USB cable
| Boards | Images |
|---|---|
| - FRDM-A-S32K344 |  |
| - FRDM K64 click shield |
|
| - DC Motor2 Click - H-Bridge Click |
|
| - 5V Fan Motor - Stepper Motor Nema17 |
|
| FRDM-A-S32K3 | Header Pin | I/O | FRDM Shield | Click Board | Click Pin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PTA13 GPIO | J4 pin 5 | → | A2 | H-Bridge | I2B | Stepper Coil A |
| PTD0 GPIO | J4 pin 1 | → | A1 | H-Bridge | I2A | Stepper Coil B |
| PTA3 GPIO | J4 pin 6 | → | D5 | H-Bridge | I1A | Stepper Coil C |
| PTC10 GPIO | J2 pin 17 | → | D9 | H-Bridge | I1B | Stepper Coil D |
| PTE1 GPIO | J4 pin 7 | → | A3 | DC MOTOR 2 | IN2 | Data input 2 |
| PTB17 GPIO | J2 pin 15 | → | D10 | DC MOTOR 2 | IN1 | Data input 1 |
| PTD2 GPIO | JP4 pin 11 | → | D2 | DC MOTOR 2 | SLP | Sleep control |
| PTA1 EMIOS | JP4 pin 3 | → | D6 | DC MOTOR 2 | PWM | PWM control |
| PTB26 | — | ← | SW2 | — | — | Switch 2 input |
| PTB19 | — | ← | SW3 | — | — | Switch 3 input |
| GND | JA3 pin 13 | → | GND | DC MOTOR 2 | GND | Ground |
| VDD_PERH | JA3 pin 7 | → | 3.3V | DC MOTOR 2 | 3V3 | Power Supply |
| GND | JA3 pin 11 | → | GND | H-Bridge | GND | Ground |
| VDD_PERH | JA3 pin 7 | → | 3.3V | H-Bridge | 3V3 | Power Supply |
- Connect the 3.4V DC Power Supply to the MikroE Clicks, in order to power the Motors:
- DC Motor 2 Click:
- GND -> PGND
- 3.4V -> VM
- Fan+ -> Out2
- Fan- -> Out1
- H-Bridge Click (move Resistor from SEL to VIN)
- GND -> GND
- 3.4V -> VIN
- 2B -> Black
- 2A -> Green
- 1A -> Blue
- 1B -> Red
- DC Motor 2 Click:
- Connect the Type-C USB cable to PC and FRDM-A-S32K344 board for power and debugging
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Open S32 Design Studio IDE, in the Dashboard Panel, choose Import project from Application Code Hub.
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Find the demo you need by searching for the name directly.
Open the project, click on the GitHub link from this window, S32 Design Studio IDE will automatically retrieve project attributes, then click Next>.
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Select main branch and then click Next>.
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Select your local path for the repo in Destination->Directory window. The S32 Design Studio IDE will clone the repo into this path, click Next>.
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Select Import existing Eclipse projects then click Next>.
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Select the project in this repo (only one project in this repo) then click Finish.
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In Project Explorer, right-click the project and select Update Code and Build Project. This will generate the configuration (Pins, Clocks, Peripherals), update the source code and build the project using the active configuration (e.g. Debug_FLASH). Make sure the build completes successfully and the *.elf file is generated without errors.
Press Yes in the SDK Component Management pop-up window to continue.
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Go to Debug and select Debug Configurations. There will be a debug configuration for this project:
Configuration Name Description ------------------------------- ----------------------- $(example)_debug_flash_pemicro Debug the FLASH configuration using PEmicro probeSelect the desired debug configuration and click on Debug. Now the perspective will change to the Debug Perspective. Use the controls to control the program flow.
The H-Bridge Click board and DC Motor Click board are controlled by the S32K344 microcontroller to simulate a complete vehicle comfort motor control system. Upon startup, both motors perform a self-test sequence — the Fan motor executes a slow-to-fast acceleration ramp followed by a smooth deceleration to stop, and the Stepper motor runs a fast burst forward, decelerates to a crawl, then mirrors the sequence in reverse — verifying proper functionality of both motor drivers before entering normal operation.
During normal operation, two push buttons (SW2 and SW3) control either the Fan motor or the Stepper motor depending on the currently active mode. The system supports runtime mode switching by pressing both buttons simultaneously. In DC motor mode, button presses step the PWM duty cycle up or down in 33% increments (0% → 33% → 67% → 100%), with the TB6593FNG driver automatically enabled on start and put to sleep on stop to prevent winding current waste. In stepper motor mode, SW2 drives the motor forward one full step per press and SW3 drives it in reverse, with all coils de-energised when no button is held to prevent overheating.
By pressing the buttons on the evaluation board, the motors will respond in the following specific way:
- Function: Switches between DC Motor Mode and Stepper Motor Mode
- Debounce: 200 ms
- Notes: Fan motor continues running at its current duty cycle when switching to stepper mode. Stepper coils are turned off when switching back to DC mode. Both buttons must be released before normal operation resumes.
- Function: Increases FAN motor speed by one step (+33% duty cycle)
- Speed Steps:
| Step | Duty Counts | Duty % |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0% (stopped) |
| 1 | 6667 | 33% |
| 2 | 13333 | 67% |
| 3 | 20000 | 100% |
- Notes: Automatically sets motor direction to FORWARD and wakes the TB6593FNG driver from sleep when starting from a stopped state. Clamps at 100%.
- Function: Decreases FAN motor speed by one step (−33% duty cycle)
- Notes: Clamps at 0% (stopped). Automatically sets motor to COAST state and puts the driver into low-power sleep mode when fully stopped to prevent wasted current through the windings.
- Function: Advances the stepper motor one full step in the forward direction
- Step Delay: 3 ms per step (maximum hardware speed)
- Sequence: Full-step dual-coil drive —
AC → BC → BD → AD(positions 0 → 1 → 2 → 3 → wrap) - Notes: Coil pair remains energised while button is held, advancing one step per loop iteration.
- Function: Advances the stepper motor one full step in the reverse direction
- Step Delay: 3 ms per step
- Sequence: Reverse of forward sequence —
AD → BD → BC → AC(positions 3 → 2 → 1 → 0 → wrap) - Notes: Coil pair remains energised while button is held.
- Function: All stepper coils de-energised — motor holds last mechanical position passively
- Notes: 10 ms idle delay per loop iteration. Prevents motor winding overheating during idle periods.
- Ramp UP — 100 PWM steps, delay decreases from 100 ms → 5 ms (slow start accelerating to full speed)
- Hold at 100% duty for 300 ms
- Ramp DOWN — 100 PWM steps, delay increases from 5 ms → 100 ms (smooth deceleration to stop)
- Ultra-fast burst forward — 32 steps at 3 ms/step (maximum hardware rate)
- Decelerate forward — 32 steps, delay linearly increases 3 ms → 50 ms
- Slow crawl forward — 8 steps at 50 ms/step (each step clearly visible)
- Ultra-fast burst reverse — 32 steps at 3 ms/step
- Decelerate reverse — 32 steps, delay linearly increases 3 ms → 50 ms
- Slow crawl reverse — 8 steps at 50 ms/step
- All coils off — self-test complete
For general technical questions related to NXP microcontrollers, please visit the NXP Community Forum.
Questions regarding the content/correctness of this example can be entered as Issues within this GitHub repository.
Warning: For more general technical questions regarding NXP Microcontrollers and the difference in expected functionality, enter your questions on the NXP Community Forum
| Version | Description / Update | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Initial release on Application Code Hub | May 29th 2026 |
| 1.1 | Updated to FRDM Automotive S32K3 + S32M27 (RTD 7.0.1) | August 25th 2026 |