A novel micro-G emulation system using active magnetic compensator for complex space operations

To perform the ground simulation experiments of the complex space operations, this work proposes a new active magnetic suspension compensator. The large-gap magnetic suspension compensator (LGMSC) is a conceptual design for a ground-based experiment which could be used to investigate the technology issues associated with accurate suspended element control at large gaps. This compensator can be used as the out-of-plane electromagnetic actuator for the 3-DOF fine stage in certain high precision positioning applications. Based on the equivalent current method, we explain the basics of the magnetic suspension compensator and analyze its advantages. A gravity compensator has been realized in a test setup that shows the feasibility of the chosen modeling technique and of magnetic gravity compensation.