Position feedback control using magneto impedance sensors on conveyor with superconducting magnetic levitation

The driving characteristic of a conveyor with superconducting magnetic levitation is reported. A superconductor (Gd–Ba–Cu–O, Sintered plate) is used to levitate a slider on the surface of a superconductor. In this paper, magneto impedance sensors are used to detect the position of a levitated slider whose size is 7.2 mm square and 2 mm in thickness. This magneto impedance sensor is commercially available and works based on a linear relation between the external magnetic field and the output voltage. This paper describes the results of (1) two-dimensional stepping actuation to arbitrary positions with the step size of 1.2 mm, (2) the maximum conveyance speed of 104 mm/s and (3) successful position feedback control.