Advances in High-Precision Magnetic Levitation Actuators

A special issue of Actuators (ISSN 2076-0825). This special issue belongs to the section "Actuators for Land Transport".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2024) | Viewed by 4017

Special Issue Editors

State Key Laboratory of Rail Transit Vehicle System, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
Interests: magnetic levitation theory and application; electromagnetic field computation; high temperature superconductors

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Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Tobata, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 804-8550, Japan
Interests: superconducting actuators; superconducting levitations; magnetic bearing actuators; magnetic levitations
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Magnetic levitation is widely used in various fields, including rail transit, bearings, motors, precision motion systems, microactuators, biomedicine, chemistry and materials science. Because there is no mechanical contact, magnetic levitation systems have the advantages of friction-free motion, multi-degree-of-freedom drive, vacuum compatibility, response speed, pollution-free operation, etc. Therefore, the drive and control of magnetic levitation systems have attracted extensive attention in the past decades. In particular, a levitating microactuator can eliminate the mechanical connection with the moving part and overcome the impact of friction on the inertial force on the micro-scale. In biomedicine, it can suspend and separate various diamagnetic materials according to the density and achieve nanometer positioning accuracy in the precision engineering neighborhood. However, due to the work needs of magnetic levitation systems, the drive and control indicators need to achieve an extremely low error and a better performance in resisting disturbance and parameter perturbation. The demand for the drive principle and strategy, control algorithm and implementation of magnetic levitation systems is challenging and interesting.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect valuable theoretical, simulational and experimental results of novel structure designs, perfomance optimizations, multi-field coupling, function coupling or decoupling, and control issues of both the magnetic levitation and driver, as well as the relevant core components, prototypes, and case analysis research for practical applications such as magnetic levitation bearings, plane motors, magnetic levitation precision positioning, levitation microactuators, particle and cell manipulation, and magnetic robot drive.

Dr. Jun Zheng
Prof. Dr. Mochimitsu Komori
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Actuators is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • magnetic levitation actuator
  • levitating microactuators
  • dynamic stability characteristics of operation
  • electromagnetic configurations
  • electromechanical coupling dynamics model
  • modeling and simulation
  • levitation system
  • hybrid levitation
  • active disturbance rejection control strategy
  • operation stability control
  • multi-degree-of-freedom precise control
  • superconducting actuator
  • superconducting levitation

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 19983 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Force and Eddy Current Position Sensing Approaches for a Magnetic Levitation Platform with an Exceptional Hovering Distance
by Reto Bonetti, Spasoje Mirić and Johann W. Kolar
Actuators 2024, 13(4), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/act13040122 - 25 Mar 2024
Viewed by 747
Abstract
This paper provides a comparative analysis between a force sensor and an eddy current sensor, focusing on their usability to determine the position of a circular levitating permanent magnet (PM) mover within an axially symmetric magnetic levitation platform (MLP) with an exceptionally large [...] Read more.
This paper provides a comparative analysis between a force sensor and an eddy current sensor, focusing on their usability to determine the position of a circular levitating permanent magnet (PM) mover within an axially symmetric magnetic levitation platform (MLP) with an exceptionally large air gap. The sensors enable closed-loop control, which is essential for accurately and stably maintaining the mover’s radial position. For the considered MLP, a change in radial position in principle results in a tilting of the mover, i.e., a deviation from the parallel alignment relative to the stator. As both the radial position and the tilting angle affect the sensors’ (force and eddy current) output voltage, an observer must deduce the radial position from the output sensor’s voltage, requiring a comprehensive MLP dynamic model and calibration of the models for both sensing approaches. The paper discusses the advantages and weaknesses of each sensor concept, exploring operational principles and performance in levitation tests. The force sensor exhibits versatility, proving functional across various application scenarios, such as when the mover is sealed in a conductive, non-magnetic chamber. In contrast, due to its high-frequency operation, the eddy current sensor is more straightforward to characterize, simplifying its behavior relative to the mover’s slower dynamics. Measurements are conducted to validate the models, showing the eddy current sensor’s robustness against disturbances and imperfections in the MLPs and its immunity to cross-axis interference. Conclusively, in levitation experiments where the mover is vertically distanced at 104 mm from the stator, the eddy current sensor achieves a position tracking precision about ten times better and a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) ten times higher compared to the off-the-shelf force sensor, confirming its better performance and reliability; however, it cannot be used in applications where conductive objects are present in the air gap. Furthermore, additional experiments are conducted on the MLP using the eddy current sensor to show the controller’s robustness and dynamic reference tracking capability, with and without a payload. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Precision Magnetic Levitation Actuators)
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17 pages, 13851 KiB  
Article
Decoupling Control for Module Suspension System of Maglev Train Based on Feedback Linearization and Extended State Observer
by Qicai Li, Peng Leng, Peichang Yu, Danfeng Zhou, Jie Li and Minghe Qu
Actuators 2023, 12(9), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12090342 - 25 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1123
Abstract
The suspension gap of the electromagnetic suspension maglev train is around 8 mm. In practice, it is found that the system gap fluctuations are amplified due to the inner coupling of the suspension module system in the maglev train. In addition, maglev trains [...] Read more.
The suspension gap of the electromagnetic suspension maglev train is around 8 mm. In practice, it is found that the system gap fluctuations are amplified due to the inner coupling of the suspension module system in the maglev train. In addition, maglev trains are affected by load disturbances and parameter perturbations during operation. These uncertainties reduce the ride comfort. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a novel control strategy to suppress inner coupling while reducing the influence of uncertainties on the system. In this paper, a control strategy based on feedback linearization and extended state observer (ESO) is proposed to address this challenge. Firstly, the suspension module system model is established with parameter uncertainties and external disturbances. Additionally, the inner coupling of the suspension module is represented in this model. Subsequently, the feedback linearization method based on differential geometry theory is applied to reduce the effect of inner coupling. Meanwhile, the system uncertainties are transformed into equivalent disturbances by this method. Afterward, a linear ESO is designed to estimate the equivalent disturbances. Finally, a state feedback controller is used to achieve stable suspension and compensate for the disturbances. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed decoupled control strategy significantly suppresses the influence of inner coupling and uncertainties on the system compared with the traditional PID control strategy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Precision Magnetic Levitation Actuators)
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12 pages, 38407 KiB  
Article
Experimental Implementation of a Magnetic Levitation System for Laser-Directed Energy Deposition via Powder Feeding Additive Manufacturing Applications
by Parichit Kumar, Mazyar Ansari, Ehsan Toyserkani and Mir Behrad Khamesee
Actuators 2023, 12(6), 244; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12060244 - 12 Jun 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1604
Abstract
Magnetic levitation and additive manufacturing (AM) are two fields of significant interest in academic research. The use of non-contact forces for magnetic levitation techniques provides opportunities for adoption within the AM environment. The key goal of this article is to experimentally validate the [...] Read more.
Magnetic levitation and additive manufacturing (AM) are two fields of significant interest in academic research. The use of non-contact forces for magnetic levitation techniques provides opportunities for adoption within the AM environment. The key goal of this article is to experimentally validate the implementation of a magnetic levitation system for Laser-Directed Energy Deposition via Powder Feeding (LDED-PF) Additive Manufacturing applications. Through simulations (conducted in ANSYS Maxwell) and experimental implementation, the levitation system’s stability is tested under a variety of different conditions. The experimental implementation highlights the feasibility of a magnetic levitation system for LDED-PF applications. The levitation system developed is capable of the suspension of non-magnetic materials. The system is also able to maintain stable levitation for extended periods of time. The incorporation of the levitation system into the AM environment may result in an increased maneuverability of non-clamped structures for AM deposition operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in High-Precision Magnetic Levitation Actuators)
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