This paper concerns the design, optimization and commutation of a six degree-of-freedom planar actuator with active magnetic bearing. The planar motor has a stationary coils array and a translator with a Halbach magnet array. During movements in the xy-plane, the set of energized coils changes with the position of the translator. In this paper a method for the electromagnetic design of this type of actuator is discussed and several topologies are compared.

This article describes a method for the active control of the deformations on a magnetically levitated moving-magnet planar motor. The planar motor under consideration is comprised of a stator on a double coil array configuration and a mover with permanent magnets, and it is designed to perform positioning tasks with nanometer level of accuracy. Due to the spatially asymmetric, nonuniform force distribution on the magnet plate, mechanical deformations are induced to the mover, which can severely hinder the desired positioning accuracy. The proposed method overcomes this challenge by properly shaping the force distribution on the moving magnet plate, which is enabled by the presence of multiple coils interacting with the mover, corresponding to an “overactuation” scheme. As a consequence, the independent control of elementary deformation shapes (modes) is achieved. The proposed overactuation scheme is experimentally validated on a planar motor prototype, proving the efficiency of the proposed method during both standstill and motion.

Arm support systems provide support throughout daily tasks, training or in an industrial environment. During the last decades a large diversity of actuated arm support systems have been developed. To analyze the actuation principles in these systems, an overview of actuated arm support systems is provided. This overview visualizes the current trends on research and development of these support systems and distinguishes three categories. These categories depend mainly on the functional status of the user environment, which defines the specifications. Therefore, the actuated arm support systems are classified according to their user environment, namely: ambulatory, rehabilitation and industrial. Furthermore, three main actuation principles and three mechanical construction principles have been identified.

A semianalytical model is derived for the description of the three-dimensional magnetic fields, generated by an array of air-cored rectangular coils above a ferromagnetic plate with cavities, or bounded slots, in the xy-plane. The magnetic fields are described with a double Fourier series and are obtained by solving the Maxwell equations using a combination of the magnetic vector and scalar potentials. Mode-matching of the double Fourier series is applied to obtain the description of the magnetic fields inside the cavities. Therefore, the mode-matching technique is extended for two dimensions. The semianalytical model is compared with three-dimensional finite element analysis and a good agreement has been found.

Most human-powered energy-harvesting systems are used to power ubiquitously deployed sensor networks and mobile electronics. These systems scavenge power from human activity or derive limited energy from ambient heat, light, or vibrations. In this article, systems that use human power by walking or running are analyzed, where an alternative system has been designed and implemented that generates energy from people dancing in a club environment.