Design of a Low-Cost Air Levitation System for Teaching Control Engineering

Sensors (Basel). 2017 Oct 12;17(10):2321. doi: 10.3390/s17102321.

Abstract

Air levitation is the process by which an object is lifted without mechanical support in a stable position, by providing an upward force that counteracts the gravitational force exerted on the object. This work presents a low-cost lab implementation of an air levitation system, based on open solutions. The rapid dynamics makes it especially suitable for a control remote lab. Due to the system's nature, the design can be optimized and, with some precision trade-off, kept affordable both in cost and construction effort. It was designed to be easily adopted to be used as both a remote lab and as a hands-on lab.

Keywords: control engineering education; control systems; distance education; remote laboratories.