Evaluate Levitation Mechanism

Select the most appropriate levitation mechanism for a specific application by defining requirements, screening candidates against hard constraints, scoring survivors on soft criteria, and documenting the decision in a reproducible trade study matrix.

When to Use

• Choosing a levitation approach for a new product or experiment
• Comparing magnetic, acoustic, aerodynamic, and electrostatic options for a contactless handling system
• Justifying a design decision in a technical review or proposal
• Re-evaluating an existing levitation system when requirements change (e.g., new payload, environment, or cost target)
• Performing a feasibility study before committing to detailed design

Inputs

• Required: Application description (what is being levitated, why contactless suspension is needed)
• Required: Payload properties (mass range, material, geometry, temperature sensitivity)
• Required: Operating environment (temperature range, atmosphere, cleanliness, vibration)
• Optional: Power budget (watts available)
• Optional: Cost target (prototype and production)