Abstract: Method and apparatus for the operation of a direct current (d.c.) motor requiring no start-up resistor and accompanying switches. Regenerative braking is obtained and the torque interference in the operation is carried over to the electrical input after being dampened, due to the "soft" speed/torque characteristic. The d.c. motor is directly controlled by a technique which stimulates either the characteristics of a shunt-wound motor or a series-wound motor. A command signal is provided by an adjustable signal source which is adjusted in accordance with the armature current desired. A d.c. voltage source is controlled to provide an armature current in accordance with the command signal. When the armature voltage reaches its nominal value, a controlled d.c. current source is regulated in accordance with an error signal which is the difference between the command signal and the armature current, to regulate the excitation.