Design of a microcontroller based state control for a magnetic levitation transport system

This paper deals with the development and the construction of a microcontroller based state control for a magnetic levitation system. It carries a transportation vehicle with a linear homopolar motor. Both systems are supplied by contactless energy transmission. The bearing magnet only needs a simple and cheap track for levitation and guidance. The vehicle is stabilised by a state control scheme. Loading and unloading is possible without putting down the system. A reduction of the costs of the state control and its peripheral parts (A/D- and D/A-converters) is presented in this paper, which has been realised by minimisation of the used components and a consequent optimisation of the software with reference to the accuracy and the speed. A control of the four bearing magnets at a frequency of 2 kHz with an accuracy of 13 bit is possible.