Three phase induction motors have a very simple construction made up of a stator covered with electromagnets, and a rotor composed of conductors shorted at each end, arranged as a “squirrel cage”. They work on the theory of induction where a rotating electro-magnetic field it produced by applying a three-stage current at the stators electromagnets. This in turn induces a current in the rotor’s conductors, which in turns creates rotor’s magnetic field that tries to check out stator’s magnetic field, pulling the rotor into rotation.

Benefits of AC Induction Motors are:

Induction motors are basic and rugged in construction. They are better quality and can operate in any environmental condition

Induction motors are cheaper in cost due to simple rotor construction, lack of brushes, commutators, and slip rings

They are free of maintenance motors unlike dc motors due to the lack of brushes, Induction Motor commutators and slip rings

Induction motors could be operated in polluted and explosive conditions as they do not have brushes which can cause sparks

AC Induction motors are Asynchronous Machines and therefore the rotor will not turn at the exact same speed as the stator’s rotating magnetic field. Some difference in the rotor and stator acceleration is necessary to be able to produce the induction in to the rotor. The difference between the two is named the slip. Slip should be kept within an optimal range to ensure that the motor to use effectively. Roboteq AC Induction controllers could be configured to operate in one of three modes:

Scallar (or Volts per Hertz): an Open loop mode where a order causes a simultaneous, fixed-ratio Frequency and Voltage change.

Controlled Slip: a Closed Loop speed where voltage and frequency are controlled to keep slip inside a narrow range while operating at a preferred speed.

Field Oriented Control (Vector Drive): a Closed Loop Velocity and Torque control that works by optimizing the rotating field of the stator vs. this of the induced field in the rotor.

Find this video from Learning Engineering for a visual illustration on how AC Induction Motors are constructed and work.