Magnetic levitation has been proposed as an alternative approach to simulate on Earth microgravity conditions encountered in space, allowing the investigation of weightlessness on materials and biological systems. In general, very strong magnetic fields, 15 T or higher, are required to achieve levitation for a majority of diamagnetic substances. Here, we show that it is possible to achieve levi...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the numerical modelling of 3D structure of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometers. The general idea being discussed is the method of levitation force reduction, as the main source of incorrect mathematical model of comb drive structure. Design/methodology/approach – Accelerometers design is a highly interdisciplinary area and, th...

Non-contact methods have been implemented in conjunction with levitation techniques to carry out the measurement of the macroscopic properties of liquids significantly cookxl below their nominal melting point. Free suspension of tile sample and remote methods allow the deep excursion into the metastable liquid state and the determination of its thermophysical properties. We used this approach t...

We are currently fabricating a haptic interface device to enable direct physical interaction with dynamic simulated three-dimensional environments by exerting and reacting to forces and motions between the user's hand and a magnetically levitated object. Our device uses magnetic levitation rather than a motorized linkage so that the dynamics are simple and actuator nonlinearities such as hyster...

[1] Dust grains have been observed to levitate above the surface of the Moon and as spokes in Saturn’s rings. In order to gain a better understanding of these observations, we have performed levitation experiments on dust grains in a low-density plasma. Plasma sheath potential profiles, measured by an emissive probe, are used to determine the spatial dependence of the electric force on a grain ...

Over the last 20 years, great progress has been made in techniques for electrostatic levitation, with innovations such as containerless thermophysical property measurements and combination of levitators with synchrotron radiation source and neutron beams, to name but a few. This review focuses on the technological developments necessary for handling materials whose melting temperatures are abov...

Friction is a major inhibitor in almost every mechanical system. Enlightened by the Leidenfrost effect - a droplet can be levitated by its own vapor layer on a sufficiently hot surface - we demonstrate for the first time that a small cart can also be levitated by Leidenfrost vapor. The levitated cart can carry certain amount of load and move frictionlessly over the hot surface. The maximum load...

of the PhD Thesis Contributions to the Modelling, Simulation and Advanced Control of Nonlinear Systems with Fast Dynamics, Applied in Electromagnetic Levitation PhD Student: eng. Adrian-Vasile DUKA Thesis advisor: Prof.dr.eng. Mihail ABRUDEAN