Tripod Floater 2.2 - Active Magnetic Bearings Demonstrator

Tripod Floater v2.2: For this latest installment of "Active Magnetic Bearing"-setup experiments we made two major improvements (see the other movies for more detailed explanation of the setup):
1/ we removed the 12 V power cable, and replaced it with an on board 11.1 V LiPo battery, allowing for several hours of undisturbed experimenting.
2/ Also, in order to enable communication with the floater, we added a Zigbee network. Using the Matlab serial interface, we obtain real time sensor information from the floater at about 30 samples per second, and feed that into an animation, showing real-time floater movements. Enjoy the movie.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• magnetic
• levitation;
• servo;
• motion;
• wireless;
• Zigbee;
• LiPo;
• electromagnetic
• forces;
• electromagnet;
• Active
• Magnetic
• Bearing;
• matlab;
• animation;

[meindertnorg]

Hi,

Good point, but think about this: you can only generate a pulling force with these bearings. For skateboards you need a force upwards, so you need something that you can use to pull yourself (or the board) up towards. So, a linear bearing becomes difficult. Making rotary bearings with this technology is also possible, but those would be too bulky for skateboards.

Thanks for watching...

Meindert

[ebrewste]

That's a really slick package and communications combo. What sort of sensor are you using for height?

[meindertnorg]

@ebrewste I used Baumer inductive sensors: IPRM 12I9505/S14 - High precision analog sensors.

[nolanjonnolan]

i have a non-technical question that you will likely ignore. millions of people ride longboard skateboards. -using traditional bearings... do you think this technology could be applied to create battery powered active magnetic bearings units for a skateboard? something the size of what you've created could be mounted above each wheel. less friction equals more speed and less effort. - or pedal bikes for that matter.... just wondering... 

[ohhaithere86]

This is pretty impressive! Have you considered methods of making the design capable of moving along the metal ceiling? There are probably a hundred different applications of this technology I could think of! Thank you for sharing your research!

[JohnCompter]

Meindert,

Compliments from Miss Lomonova and me, very innovative.

Regards John Compter