Robust Control of MIMO System

Magnetic Levitation System (MLS) has been receiving increasing attention in recent years. It has numerous practical applications in many practical engineering systems such as high speed maglev trains which are being used in Japan and Germany, frictionless bearings, vibration isolation of sensitive machinery, levitation of wind tunnel models, aerospace shuttles, etc.MLS controls the magnetic field generated by an electromagnet to levitate a ferromagnetic ball in midair. With an appropriate controller in the loop, the small magnet levitates in the air indefinitely without any disturbance. Its significance lies in the fact that it eliminates energy losses due to friction. The MLS can be classified into two categories viz. Attractive Systems and Repulsive Systems based on the source of levitation forces.The MLS is one of the classical experimental set ups to illustrate some of the analysis and design methods in control system education. The system is highly non linear, open loop unstable and extremely challenging to control.