Development of non-contact carrier system using solar magnetic suspension (3ed report: Continuous 5-day and installation of sloping propulsion mechanism)

A solar-powered magnetic suspension carrier system is developed in which the carrier is powered without contact. There are two conventional methods of powering the coils of the magnetic suspension carrier: (i) through wire, (ii) onboard battery (wireless) power supply. The contactless is lost in the former while stations for charging the battery are necessary in the latter. These problems are overcome by the proposed carrier system using solar magnetic suspension that can attain continuous levitation. The magnetic suspension carrier is assumed to operate inside rooms like inside a factory building. Because the generation power by solar cells is small, power saving us acritical requirement. Therefore, the zero power control is applied for suspension. In addition, low-power peripheral devices are fabricated. The developed carrier system achieved a five-day levitation without external power supply in a bright environment. In addition, a sloping propulsion mechanism was introduced. The mechanism consists of a track rail and two pillars with actuators to move up and down the track rail. The carrier slides and moves to the lower direction due to gravity below a sloped rail.