A motor controller for engaging a spinning induction motor, comprising: a power section configured to provide power to the induction motor; and a control configured to control the power section, wherein the control is configured to: determine a motor rotational frequency of the induction motor by: applying a small excitation voltage to the induction motor, wherein the excitation voltage is initially applied at a voltage frequency which is a maximum frequency; characterized by monitoring a feedback current of the induction motor, wherein the feedback current is produced by applying the small excitation voltage to the induction motor, and wherein the voltage frequency of the small excitation voltage is based on the induction motor equivalent circuit parameters; transforming the feedback current of the induction motor into a current vector, in which the current vector equates to the motor rotational frequency of the induction motor; applying the voltage frequency to the induction motor, in which the control lowers the voltage frequency to a particular speed; and when the feedback current is zero, determining that the induction motor is spinning at the motor speed of the particular speed; track the motor rotational frequency until the motor frequency is below that of an equivalent speed command to obtain a commanded speed; and apply a higher voltage to the induction motor and increase the voltage frequency to engage the induction motor. a power section configured to provide power to the induction motor; and a control configured to control the power section, wherein the control is configured to: determine a motor rotational frequency of the induction motor by: applying a small excitation voltage to the induction motor, wherein the excitation voltage is initially applied at a voltage frequency which is a maximum frequency; characterized by monitoring a feedback current of the induction motor, wherein the feedback current is produced by applying the small excitation voltage to the induction motor, and wherein the voltage frequency of the small excitation voltage is based on the induction motor equivalent circuit parameters; transforming the feedback current of the induction motor into a current vector, in which the current vector equates to the motor rotational frequency of the induction motor; applying the voltage frequency to the induction motor, in which the control lowers the voltage frequency to a particular speed; and when the feedback current is zero, determining that the induction motor is spinning at the motor speed of the particular speed; track the motor rotational frequency until the motor frequency is below that of an equivalent speed command to obtain a commanded speed; and apply a higher voltage to the induction motor and increase the voltage frequency to engage the induction motor. determine a motor rotational frequency of the induction motor by: applying a small excitation voltage to the induction motor, wherein the excitation voltage is initially applied at a voltage frequency which is a maximum frequency; characterized by monitoring a feedback current of the induction motor, wherein the feedback current is produced by applying the small excitation voltage to the induction motor, and wherein the voltage frequency of the small excitation voltage is based on the induction motor equivalent circuit parameters; transforming the feedback current of the induction motor into a current vector, in which the current vector equates to the motor rotational frequency of the induction motor; applying the voltage frequency to the induction motor, in which the control lowers the voltage frequency to a particular speed; and when the feedback current is zero, determining that the induction motor is spinning at the motor speed of the particular speed; applying a small excitation voltage to the induction motor, wherein the excitation voltage is initially applied at a voltage frequency which is a maximum frequency; characterized by monitoring a feedback current of the induction motor, wherein the feedback current is produced by applying the small excitation voltage to the induction motor, and wherein the voltage frequency of the small excitation voltage is based on the induction motor equivalent circuit parameters; transforming the feedback current of the induction motor into a current vector, in which the current vector equates to the motor rotational frequency of the induction motor; applying the voltage frequency to the induction motor, in which the control lowers the voltage frequency to a particular speed; and when the feedback current is zero, determining that the induction motor is spinning at the motor speed of the particular speed; track the motor rotational frequency until the motor frequency is below that of an equivalent speed command to obtain a commanded speed; and apply a higher voltage to the induction motor and increase the voltage frequency to engage the induction motor.