Sensorless Support Control of Thin-Steel-Plate Using the Real-Time Vibration Analysis Technique

Abstract

Thin-steel-plates are used in the space industry, the auto mobile industry, and so on. In the manufacturing process, generally the thin-steel-plates are conveyed with rollers. However problems, such as cracks, are arisen by contact friction. Then, the non-contact carrier system using the magnetic levitation system is proposed. The feedback control is indispensable to the stable levitation of the system. So, in order to make the continuous line for the conveyance, a lot of electromagnets and gap sensors are needed. It is necessary to solve the problems of the cost of the sensors and the collocation of the sensor with the corresponding magnet. Therefore, to eliminate the problems, the real-time vibration analysis technique using the Finite Element Method (FEM) is suggested. In this paper, we discuss the analysis technique in the one-dimensional model of the thin-steel-plate. First, finite-element expression of the vibrational motion equation of the thin-steel-plate is derived. Second, for the sensorless support control, controllability and observability of the system is secured, and the stability of the system is studied. Finally, sensorless support test is conducted.