UW Sensors, Energy and Automation Lab (SEAL)

Low Power Magnetic Linear Actuator for Camera Positioning

Wide-angle lenses bend and stretch images, which makes them a poor choice for astronomers studying and taking accurate data measurements for meteor observations. This project built a small, battery-powered cart that slides a camera back and forth along a track driven by magnets, letting the camera use a regular lens to capture a wider view. The cart is moved by a reliable custom magnet and coil system using very little battery power. A small computer keeps the camera’s position accurate to within a millimeter and lets the user control everything wirelessly from a phone or laptop.