Fundamental study for rosary-shaped magnetic actuators

Rosary-shaped magnetic actuators are proposed. The actuators consist of mul tiple permanent magnet cubes connected in a queue or in a circle. By applyi ng the magnetic field to the magnet cubes, the actuators are supposed to mo ve in liquid and convey medicine in a human body. For the first stage, this article shows the fundamental analysis and experimental results of control ling one-magnet motions. We studied motions of a magnet of two poles, put i n water, where the magnet was equipped with a float. The floating magnet wa s column shaped with a 10 mm diam and 6 mm height. We have succeeded in ind ependently fixing the position and angle of the magnet by controlling the c urrents flowing in two separate coils. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physi cs. [S0021-8979(98)16411-3].