A drive controller for a motor of a compressor , the drive controller comprising: a drive circuit configured to apply voltages to windings of the motor; a speed control module configured to control the drive circuit to rotate a rotor of the motor at a requested speed; a speed determination module configured to generate the requested speed;and a locked rotor protection module configured to identify a locked rotor condition and, in response to identifying the locked rotor condition, instruct the speed determination module to power down the motor , characterized in that : the locked rotor protection module is configured to acquire an estimated speed of the motor upon expiration of a predetermined time interval that begins upon startup of the motor , the locked rotor protection module is configured to identify the locked rotor condition in response to the estimated speed being lower than a threshold speed, the threshold speed is based on the requested speed, and the drive controller further comprises a startup module configured to start the motor by (i) causing the speed determination module to ramp the requested speed from zero up to a predetermined dwell speed and (ii) causing the speed determination module to maintain the requested speed at the predetermined dwell speed for a predetermined dwell time period. a drive circuit configured to apply voltages to windings of the motor; a speed control module configured to control the drive circuit to rotate a rotor of the motor at a requested speed; a speed determination module configured to generate the requested speed;and a locked rotor protection module configured to identify a locked rotor condition and, in response to identifying the locked rotor condition, instruct the speed determination module to power down the motor , characterized in that : the locked rotor protection module is configured to acquire an estimated speed of the motor upon expiration of a predetermined time interval that begins upon startup of the motor , the locked rotor protection module is configured to identify the locked rotor condition in response to the estimated speed being lower than a threshold speed, the threshold speed is based on the requested speed, and the drive controller further comprises a startup module configured to start the motor by (i) causing the speed determination module to ramp the requested speed from zero up to a predetermined dwell speed and (ii) causing the speed determination module to maintain the requested speed at the predetermined dwell speed for a predetermined dwell time period. the locked rotor protection module is configured to acquire an estimated speed of the motor upon expiration of a predetermined time interval that begins upon startup of the motor , the locked rotor protection module is configured to identify the locked rotor condition in response to the estimated speed being lower than a threshold speed, the threshold speed is based on the requested speed, and the drive controller further comprises a startup module configured to start the motor by (i) causing the speed determination module to ramp the requested speed from zero up to a predetermined dwell speed and (ii) causing the speed determination module to maintain the requested speed at the predetermined dwell speed for a predetermined dwell time period. <EOS>