How to: Controlled Levitation using Magnets & Microcontrollers

Here are four superb examples of combining electricity and magnetism to create wirelessly powered, levitating objects. Typically using two copper coils for induction, the some methods in the tutorials below transfer electricity through thin air. To get started, you can learn how to levitate a LEGO figure, then move onto more complex projects below.

The Basics:

Using the simple laws of levitation, you can build this magnetic levitator too. The project uses an IR sensor to adjust the electromagnetic field and maintain a constant distance between the electromagnet and the object. No microcontrollers for this one.

Electro-Magnetic Levitating Train

In Europe, the trains above actually exist on a real-life scale. You can learn how it works by building your own on a smaller scale as shown in this electromagnetic train levitation project.

Levitating, Rotating Globe

Using easily available magnets (or electromagnets), you can combine both magnetism and wireless electricity. The levitating rotating globe, for example, uses a magnet and a microcontroller to levitate the globe, then it uses a wirelessly powered motor (via a transmitter-receiver coil) to make it rotate around a tilted axis.

Wireless Lightbulb Levitation

The magnetic levitation bulb also uses wireless energy transfer to not only light it up but also make it ‘magically’ float in mid air. Two magnets and two electromagnets keep the light bulb afloat. The light bulb is attached to a Hall sensor and magnet that settles the voltage as the magnetic field changes. The bulb is then illuminated by the inductive current from the magnetic field. Learn to build your own and check out a similar build as well.