An AC motor control system for operating an AC induction motor, the motor control system comprising: a switching system including a plurality of switching devices (110a, 110b, 110c) coupled between an AC power source and an induction motor, the individual switching devices operative to selectively couple a corresponding motor lead to the AC power source according to a corresponding switch control signal, the switching system further providing at least one feedback signal; and a motor speed control system operatively coupled with the switching system and providing to the switching system the switch control signal, the motor speed control system further comprising: a motor controller providing a motor controller output to control the motor speed during starting or stopping according to a desired speed profile and according to a rotor speed estimate; a switch control system providing a plurality of switch control signals (122a, 122b, 122c) to control operation of the switching devices of the switching system during starting or stopping of the motor according to the controller output; a transient excitation system operatively coupled with the switch control system to selectively modify at least one switch control signal to excite a motor transient which results in at least one measurable or discernable transient speed-related signal associated with the motor transient, and which is provided in the at least one feedback signal; anda transient-based speed estimation system operatively coupled with the switching system, the transient-based speed estimation system further receiving the at least one feedback signal from the switching system; and measuring the at least one transient speed-related signal in the at least one feedback signal, and generating on basis of the measurement a phase error signal; and determining from the phase error signal the rotor speed estimate; and providing the rotor speed estimate to the motor controller. a switching system including a plurality of switching devices (110a, 110b, 110c) coupled between an AC power source and an induction motor, the individual switching devices operative to selectively couple a corresponding motor lead to the AC power source according to a corresponding switch control signal, the switching system further providing at least one feedback signal; and a motor speed control system operatively coupled with the switching system and providing to the switching system the switch control signal, the motor speed control system further comprising: a motor controller providing a motor controller output to control the motor speed during starting or stopping according to a desired speed profile and according to a rotor speed estimate; a switch control system providing a plurality of switch control signals (122a, 122b, 122c) to control operation of the switching devices of the switching system during starting or stopping of the motor according to the controller output; a transient excitation system operatively coupled with the switch control system to selectively modify at least one switch control signal to excite a motor transient which results in at least one measurable or discernable transient speed-related signal associated with the motor transient, and which is provided in the at least one feedback signal; anda transient-based speed estimation system operatively coupled with the switching system, the transient-based speed estimation system further receiving the at least one feedback signal from the switching system; and measuring the at least one transient speed-related signal in the at least one feedback signal, and generating on basis of the measurement a phase error signal; and determining from the phase error signal the rotor speed estimate; and providing the rotor speed estimate to the motor controller. a motor controller providing a motor controller output to control the motor speed during starting or stopping according to a desired speed profile and according to a rotor speed estimate; a switch control system providing a plurality of switch control signals (122a, 122b, 122c) to control operation of the switching devices of the switching system during starting or stopping of the motor according to the controller output; a transient excitation system operatively coupled with the switch control system to selectively modify at least one switch control signal to excite a motor transient which results in at least one measurable or discernable transient speed-related signal associated with the motor transient, and which is provided in the at least one feedback signal; anda transient-based speed estimation system operatively coupled with the switching system, the transient-based speed estimation system further receiving the at least one feedback signal from the switching system; and measuring the at least one transient speed-related signal in the at least one feedback signal, and generating on basis of the measurement a phase error signal; and determining from the phase error signal the rotor speed estimate; and providing the rotor speed estimate to the motor controller. receiving the at least one feedback signal from the switching system; and measuring the at least one transient speed-related signal in the at least one feedback signal, and generating on basis of the measurement a phase error signal; and determining from the phase error signal the rotor speed estimate; and providing the rotor speed estimate to the motor controller.