Hybrid Tunable Magnet Actuator: Modeling and Design

Abstract: Reluctance actuators are preferred for high-precision applications. Due to resistive losses in the coils, the accuracy of this type of actuator will reduce in quasi-static operation mode within a vacuum environment. By using soft permanent magnets whose magnetization states are in-situ tuned, no constant power is needed to create a force and thereby the resistive losses will reduce. In this paper, a new tuning method is investigated in order to reduce the resistive losses. By using a history-dependent and non-linear hysteresis model, a more efficient tuning algorithm is designed. Besides this, the position accuracy and control simplicity of a variable reluctance tunable magnet actuator are improved by linearizing the non-linear force-flux relationship. This is achieved by using bias fluxes generated by hard permanent magnets.