Magnetic levitation transport system for flexible materials

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K04384
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 20020:Robotics and intelligent system-related
• Research Institution: Tokai University
• Principal Investigator: Narita Takayoshi 東海大学, 工学部, 講師 (90733717)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 加藤 英晃 東海大学, 工学部, 准教授 (90734476)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 制御工学 / 磁気工学 / 振動工学 / 材料力学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study proposed a magnetic levitation transport system in which a thin, flexible steel plate, which has previously been very difficult to control, is levitated by applying horizontal tension from opposing electromagnets, and furthermore, propulsive force is obtained by inputting AC currents of different phases to each pair of electromagnets to generate a moving magnetic field.
As a result of the research, the basic characteristics of the propulsive force generated by the proposed system were clarified. Next, the tension generated in the levitated flexible steel plate by the steady current passed through the electromagnets was calculated. In addition, by changing each parameter, it was possible to clarify the relationship between the levitation stability of the steel plate and the propulsive force when an AC current is applied while horizontal positioning is performed by the control current.

Free Research Field

メカトロニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により得られた柔軟な物体の非接触搬送技術に関する成果は磁気工学、振動工学、制御工学の３分野の融合領域に位置づけられる。しかしながら、これまでの検討では浮上対象を変形しない剛体として扱う場合が多く、振動工学的観点を磁気浮上技術において考慮した研究例は国内外において皆無である。また本研究計画の柔軟な物体に対する磁気浮上搬送技術は長編成で浮上走行するリニアモーターカーの高速走行時の安定性向上や、柔軟なテザー上を昇降する宇宙エレベータにおける昇降技術の基礎研究としても位置付けることができる。