De-Centralized and Centralized Control for Realistic EMS Maglev Systems

A comparative study of de-centralized and centralized controllers when used with real EMS Maglev Systems is introduced. This comparison is divided into two parts. Part I is concerned with numerical simulation and experimental testing on a two ton six-magnet EMS Maglev vehicle. Levitation and lateral control with these controllers individually and when including flux feedback control in combination with these controllers to enhance stability are introduced. The centralized controller is better than the de-centralized one when the system is exposed to a lateral disturbing force such as wind gusts. The flux feedback control when combined with de-centralized or centralized controllers does improve the stability and is more resistant and robust with respect to the air gap variations. Part II is concerned with the study of Maglev vehicle-girder dynamic interaction system and the comparison between these two controllers on this typical system based on performance and ride quality achieved. Numerical simulations of the ODU EMS Maglev vehicle interacting with girder are conducted with these two different controllers. The de-centralized and centralized control for EMS Maglev systems that interact with a flexible girder provides similar ride quality

International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology, Part 1

The goal of the symposium was to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review related recent developments in sensors and controls approaches, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices. The symposium included 17 technical sessions in which 55 papers were presented. The technical session covered the areas of bearings, sensors and controls, microgravity and vibration isolation, superconductivity, manufacturing applications, wind tunnel magnetic suspension systems, magnetically levitated trains (MAGLEV), space applications, and large gap magnetic suspension systems

Infrastructure Design, Signalling and Security in Railway

Railway transportation has become one of the main technological advances of our society. Since the first railway used to carry coal from a mine in Shropshire (England, 1600), a lot of efforts have been made to improve this transportation concept. One of its milestones was the invention and development of the steam locomotive, but commercial rail travels became practical two hundred years later. From these first attempts, railway infrastructures, signalling and security have evolved and become more complex than those performed in its earlier stages. This book will provide readers a comprehensive technical guide, covering these topics and presenting a brief overview of selected railway systems in the world. The objective of the book is to serve as a valuable reference for students, educators, scientists, faculty members, researchers, and engineers

Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology

In order to examine the state of technology of all areas of magnetic suspension and to review recent developments in sensors, controls, superconducting magnet technology, and design/implementation practices, the Third International Symposium on Magnetic Suspension Technology was held at the Holiday Inn Capital Plaza in Tallahassee, Florida on 13-15 Dec. 1995. The symposium included 19 sessions in which a total of 55 papers were presented. The technical sessions covered the areas of bearings, superconductivity, vibration isolation, maglev, controls, space applications, general applications, bearing/actuator design, modeling, precision applications, electromagnetic launch and hypersonic maglev, applications of superconductivity, and sensors

Closed-loop real-time control on distributed networks

This thesis is an effort to develop closed-loop control strategies on computer networks and study their stability in the presence of network delays and packet losses. An algorithm using predictors was designed to ensure the system stability in presence of network delays and packet losses. A single actuator magnetic ball levitation system was used as a test bed to validate the proposed algorithm. A brief study of real-time requirements of the networked control system is presented and a client-server architecture is developed using real-time operating environment to implement the proposed algorithm. Real-time performance of the communication on Ethernet based on user datagram protocol (UDP) was explored and UDP is presented as a suitable protocol for networked control systems. Predictors were designed based on parametric estimation models. Autoregressive (AR) and autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models of various orders were designed using MATLAB and an eighth order AR model was adopted based on the best-fit criterion. The system output was predicted several steps ahead using these predictors and control output was calculated using the predictions. This control output output was used in the events of excessive network delays to maintain system stability. Experiments employing simulations of consecutive packet losses and network delays were performed to validate the satisfactory performance of the predictor based algorithm. The current system compensates for up to 20 percent data losses in the network without loosing stability

Accommodation requirements for microgravity science and applications research on space station

Scientific research conducted in the microgravity environment of space represents a unique opportunity to explore and exploit the benefits of materials processing in the virtual abscence of gravity induced forces. NASA has initiated the preliminary design of a permanently manned space station that will support technological advances in process science and stimulate the development of new and improved materials having applications across the commercial spectrum. A study is performed to define from the researchers' perspective, the requirements for laboratory equipment to accommodate microgravity experiments on the space station. The accommodation requirements focus on the microgravity science disciplines including combustion science, electronic materials, metals and alloys, fluids and transport phenomena, glasses and ceramics, and polymer science. User requirements have been identified in eleven research classes, each of which contain an envelope of functional requirements for related experiments having similar characteristics, objectives, and equipment needs. Based on these functional requirements seventeen items of experiment apparatus and twenty items of core supporting equipment have been defined which represent currently identified equipment requirements for a pressurized laboratory module at the initial operating capability of the NASA space station

NIAC Phase II Orbiting Rainbows: Future Space Imaging with Granular Systems

Inspired by the light scattering and focusing properties of distributed optical assemblies in Nature, such as rainbows and aerosols, and by recent laboratory successes in optical trapping and manipulation, we propose a unique combination of space optics and autonomous robotic system technology, to enable a new vision of space system architecture with applications to ultra-lightweight space optics and, ultimately, in-situ space system fabrication. Typically, the cost of an optical system is driven by the size and mass of the primary aperture. The ideal system is a cloud of spatially disordered dust-like objects that can be optically manipulated: it is highly reconfigurable, fault-tolerant, and allows very large aperture sizes at low cost. This new concept is based on recent understandings in the physics of optical manipulation of small particles in the laboratory and the engineering of distributed ensembles of spacecraft swarms to shape an orbiting cloud of micron-sized objects. In the same way that optical tweezers have revolutionized micro- and nano-manipulation of objects, our breakthrough concept will enable new large scale NASA mission applications and develop new technology in the areas of Astrophysical Imaging Systems and Remote Sensing because the cloud can operate as an adaptive optical imaging sensor. While achieving the feasibility of constructing one single aperture out of the cloud is the main topic of this work, it is clear that multiple orbiting aerosol lenses could also combine their power to synthesize a much larger aperture in space to enable challenging goals such as exo-planet detection. Furthermore, this effort could establish feasibility of key issues related to material properties, remote manipulation, and autonomy characteristics of cloud in orbit. There are several types of endeavors (science missions) that could be enabled by this type of approach, i.e. it can enable new astrophysical imaging systems, exo-planet search, large apertures allow for unprecedented high resolution to discern continents and important features of other planets, hyperspectral imaging, adaptive systems, spectroscopy imaging through limb, and stable optical systems from Lagrange-points. Furthermore, future micro-miniaturization might hold promise of a further extension of our dust aperture concept to other more exciting smart dust concepts with other associated capabilities. Our objective in Phase II was to experimentally and numerically investigate how to optically manipulate and maintain the shape of an orbiting cloud of dust-like matter so that it can function as an adaptable ultra-lightweight surface. Our solution is based on the aperture being an engineered granular medium, instead of a conventional monolithic aperture. This allows building of apertures at a reduced cost, enables extremely fault-tolerant apertures that cannot otherwise be made, and directly enables classes of missions for exoplanet detection based on Fourier spectroscopy with tight angular resolution and innovative radar systems for remote sensing. In this task, we have examined the advanced feasibility of a crosscutting concept that contributes new technological approaches for space imaging systems, autonomous systems, and space applications of optical manipulation. The proposed investigation has matured the concept that we started in Phase I to TRL 3, identifying technology gaps and candidate system architectures for the space-borne cloud as an aperture

A Hybrid Controller for Stability Robustness, Performance Robustness, and Disturbance Attenuation of a Maglev System

Devices using magnetic levitation (maglev) offer the potential for friction-free, high-speed, and high-precision operation. Applications include frictionless bearings, high-speed ground transportation systems, wafer distribution systems, high-precision positioning stages, and vibration isolation tables. Maglev systems rely on feedback controllers to maintain stable levitation. Designing such feedback controllers is challenging since mathematically the electromagnetic force is nonlinear and there is no local minimum point on the levitating force function. As a result, maglev systems are open-loop unstable. Additionally, maglev systems experience disturbances and system parameter variations (uncertainties) during operation. A successful controller design for maglev system guarantees stability during levitating despite system nonlinearity, and desirable system performance despite disturbances and system uncertainties. This research investigates five controllers that can achieve stable levitation: PD, PID, lead, model reference control, and LQR/LQG. It proposes an acceleration feedback controller (AFC) design that attenuates disturbance on a maglev system with a PD controller. This research proposes three robust controllers, QFT, Hinf , and QFT/Hinf , followed by a novel AFC-enhanced QFT/Hinf (AQH) controller. The AQH controller allows system robustness and disturbance attenuation to be achieved in one controller design. The controller designs are validated through simulations and experiments. In this research, the disturbances are represented by force disturbances on the levitated object, and the system uncertainties are represented by parameter variations. The experiments are conducted on a 1 DOF maglev testbed, with system performance including stability, disturbance rejection, and robustness being evaluated. Experiments show that the tested controllers can maintain stable levitation. Disturbance attenuation is achieved with the AFC. The robust controllers, QFT, Hinf , QFT/ Hinf, and AQH successfully guarantee system robustness. In addition, AQH controller provides the maglev system with a disturbance attenuation feature. The contributions of this research are the design and implementation of the acceleration feedback controller, the QFT/ Hinf , and the AQH controller. Disturbance attenuation and system robustness are achieved with these controllers. The controllers developed in this research are applicable to similar maglev systems

Controller Design and Optimization for Rotor System Supported by Active Magnetic Bearings

Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs) have been receiving increased attention in industry because of the advantages (contact-free, oil-free, etc.,) that they display in comparison with conventional bearings. They are used extensively in rotor system applications, especially in conditions where conventional bearing systems fail. Most AMBs are controlled by Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID)-controllers. Controller design for AMB systems by means of hand tuning is time-consuming and requires expert knowledge. In order to avoid this situation and reduce the effort to tune the controller, multi-objective optimization with genetic algorithm is introduced to design and optimize the AMB controllers. In the optimization, criteria both in time and frequency domain are considered. A hierarchical fitness function evaluation procedure is used to accelerate the optimization process and to increase the probability of convergence. This evaluation procedure guides the optimizer to locate the small feasible region resulting mainly from the requirement for stability of control system. Another strategy to reduce the number of optimization parameters is developed, which is based on a sensitivity analysis of the controller parameters. This strategy reduces directly the complexity of the optimization problem and accelerates the optimization process. Controller designs for two AMB systems are considered in this thesis. Based on the introduced and presented hierarchical evaluation strategy, the controller design for the first AMB system is obtained without specific requirements related to initial solutions. The optimal controller design is applied to a test rig with a flexible rotor supported by AMBs. The results show that the introduced optimization procedure realizes the desired results of the controlled system’s behavior. The maximal speed of 15000 rpm is reached. The second AMB system is designed for a turbo-compressor. The introduced parameter reduction strategy is applied for the controller design of this AMB system. The controller design is optimized in the search space around an initial solution. Optimization results show the efficiency of the introduced strategy.Aufgrund vieler Vorteile (wie z. B. Kontaktfreiheit, Ölfreiheit) gegenüber konventionellen Lagern etablieren sich aktive Magnetlager zunehmend in der Industrie. Aktive Magnetlager werden zum großen Teil in Rotorsystemen verwendet, wo konventionelle Öllager für die Anwendung versagen. PID-Regler werden häufig für Magnetlager verwendet. Die Auslegung des Reglers wird durch manuelle Einstellung (trial and error) bestimmt und ist sehr zeitaufwendig. Zudem bedarf es spezieller Fachkenntnisse zur Einstellung. Um diese Situation zu vermeiden und den Aufwand für die Reglerauslegung zu reduzieren, wird die Mehrzieloptimierung mit Genetischen Algorithmen in der vorliegenden Arbeit zur Optimierung des Reglerentwurfs eingesetzt. In der Optimierung werden die Zielfunktionen sowohl im Zeit- wie auch im Frequenzbereich definiert. Um den Optimierungsprozess zu beschleunigen und die Wahrscheinlichkeit der Konvergenz der Optimierung zu erhöhen, wird eine hierarchische Struktur zur Bewertung der Zielfunktionen eingeführt. Dies hilft dem Optimierer bei der Lokalisierung des kleinen zulässigen Bereichs, der im Wesentlichen aus der Anforderung an die Stabilität des Magnetlagersystems resultiert. Desweitern wird eine Strategie zur Reduzierung der Optimierungsparameter entwickelt, die auf der Sensitivitätsanalyse der Reglerparameter basiert. Diese Strategie reduziert die Komplexität des Optimierungsproblems und führt zu einer Beschleunigung des Optimierungsprozesses. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird der Reglerentwurf von zwei Magnetlagersystemen berücksichtigt. Mit Hilfe der eingeführten Strategie zur Bewertung der Zielfunktionen, werden die Reglerparameter von dem ersten Magnetlagersystem bestimmt bzw. optimiert, ohne dass irgendeine Information über die Anfangslösung erforderlich ist. Der optimale Reglerentwurf wird dann in einem Versuchstand implementiert, in dem eine elastische Welle durch zwei Magnetlager gelagert ist. Die Versuchsergebnisse zeigen, dass das gewünschte dynamische Verhalten des geregelten Magnetlagersystems durch die Optimierung erzielt wird. Die maximal zulässige Drehzahl (15000 rpm) des Versuchsstandes wird mit dem optimalen Regler ohne Probleme erreicht. Als zweites Beispiel wird der Reglerentwurf eines magnetgelagerten Rotorsystems eines Turboverdichters betrachtet. In der Reglerauslegung wird die vorgeschlagene Optimierungsstrategie mit Hilfe von Parameterreduktion verwendet. Die optimale Lösung wird lokal in der Nähe einer Anfangslösung gesucht. Die Optimierungsergebnisse zeigen die Effizienz der Optimierungsstrategie