Linear motors are strong candidates for manufacturing
automation applications requiring high-performance
direct-drive linear position control. Unlike rotary
motor drive systems, linear motor drive systems do
not require rotary-to-linear transmissions, such as
belt or screw; hence they usually provide higher
performance. With increasing usage and higher demands
for better performance, linear motor design has
become an ever important subject. Since electric
machine design process usually involves several
design objectives, multi-objective optimization
technique is naturally a suitable choice to address
this challenging problem. This book provides a basic
framework of designing linear synchronous motors by
covering three major topics: (i) magnetic modeling,
(ii) optimal performance assessment and (iii)
multi-objective design methodology. Two selected
topologies of linear permanent-magnet and linear
variable reluctance motors are then considered for
manufacturing automation applications. This work
should help provide some analysis tools on this
exciting subject, as well as should be useful to any
professionals in electrical machine design, numerical
analysis and optimization.