PFI:AIR - TT: Non-Intrusive Position Measurement in Oscillating Piston Applications

该PFI空气技术转换项目致力于将确定磁铁空间位置的研究转化为满足活塞-气缸执行器中活塞位置测量需求的技术。开发的传感器很重要，因为它可以使许多工业和移动机器实现自动化。该项目将产生一个坚固的活塞位置测量传感器原型。建议的传感器将是非接触式的，非侵入性的，价格低廉，不需要视线接触，并且只需要最小的工作量就可以安装在气缸上。由于这些优势，所提出的传感器有机会在活塞位置应用领域建立相当大的市场份额。该项目在从研究发现转化为商业应用的过程中解决了以下技术差距：a)需要将传感器放置在执行器顶部的离轴位置，这需要开发和使用复杂的二维磁场模型。B)传感器样机需要解决的问题是，当圆柱体由软钢制成时，由于磁体的振荡运动，圆柱体被实时磁化和退磁，因此需要解决滞后问题。C)将以前的线性位置传感器技术扩展到旋转应用中需要新的传感器体系结构、新模型的开发和新的估计算法。提出的解决方案包括开发解析的二维磁场模型，开发一种新的磁滞分析模型，该模型比传统的Preisach模型具有显著的优势，以及开发稳健的自动校准算法。此外，参与该项目的一名研究生和一名博士后将通过原型开发和行业互动获得技术转换经验。该项目聘请三家主要执行器公司在其执行器产品上评估传感器原型，因为技术从研究发现转化为商业现实。

This PFI AIR Technology Translation project focuses on translating research for determining the spatial location of a magnet into technology to fulfill the need for piston position measurement in piston-cylinder actuators. The developed sensor is important because it can enable automation in a number of industrial and mobile machines. The project will result in a robust prototype of a piston position measurement sensor. The proposed sensor will be non-contacting, non-intrusive, inexpensive, will not require line-of-sight access, and will involve minimal effort for installation on a cylinder. Due to these advantages, the proposed sensor has an opportunity to establish a significant market share in the piston position application domain. This project addresses the following technology gaps as it translates from research discovery towards commercial applications: a) The need to place the sensor at an off-axis location on top of the actuator requires the development and use of complex two-dimensional magnetic field models. b) The sensor prototype needs to address problems due to hysteresis when the cylinder is made of soft steel which gets magnetized and demagnetized in real time due to oscillatory motion of a magnet. c) Extension of the previous linear position sensor technology to rotational applications requires new sensor architectures, development of new models, and new estimation algorithms.Specific solutions to address the above challenges will be fully developed and evaluated in the project. The proposed solutions include development of analytical two-dimensional magnetic field models, development of a new analytical model for hysteresis that has significant advantages over the traditional Preisach model, and development of robust auto-calibration algorithms. In addition, a graduate student and a post-doc involved in the project will receive technology translation experience through prototype development and industrial interaction.The project engages three major actuator companies to evaluate the sensor prototype on their actuator products, as the technology is translated from research discovery towards commercial reality.