Machine learning-based position detection using hall-effect sensor arrays on resource-constrained microcontroller

Németh, Z., See, C. H., Goh, K., Ghani, A., Keates, S. and A. Abd-Alhameed, R. (2025) Machine learning-based position detection using hall-effect sensor arrays on resource-constrained microcontroller. Sensors, 25 (20). pp. 1-16. ISSN 1424-8220

[thumbnail of Németh Z, See CH, Goh K, Ghani A, Keates S, A. Abd-Alhameed R. Machine Learning-Based Position Detection Using Hall-Effect Sensor Arrays on Resource-Constrained Microcontroller. Sensors. 2025; 25(20):6444. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25206444]
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Text (Németh Z, See CH, Goh K, Ghani A, Keates S, A. Abd-Alhameed R. Machine Learning-Based Position Detection Using Hall-Effect Sensor Arrays on Resource-Constrained Microcontroller. Sensors. 2025; 25(20):6444. https://doi.org/10.3390/s25206444)
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Abstract

This paper presents an electromagnetic levitation system that stabilizes a magnetic body using an array of electromagnets controlled by a Hall-effect sensor array and TinyML-based position detection. Departing from conventional optical tracking methods, the proposed design combines finite-element-optimized electromagnets with a microcontroller-optimized neural network that processes sensor data to predict the levitated object’s position with 0.0263–0.0381 mm mean absolute error. The system employs both quantized and full-precision implementations of a supervised multi-output regression model trained on spatially sampled data (40 × 40 × 15 mm volume at 5 mm intervals). Comprehensive benchmarking demonstrates stable operation at 850–1000 Hz control frequencies, matching optical systems’ performance while eliminating their cost and complexity. The integrated solution performs real-time position detection and current calculation entirely on-board, requiring no external tracking devices or high-performance computing. By achieving sub 30 μm accuracy with standard microcontrollers and minimal hardware, this work validates machine learning as a viable alternative to optical position detection in magnetic levitation systems, reducing implementation barriers for research and industrial applications. The complete system design, including electromagnetic array characterization, neural network architecture selection, and real-time implementation challenges, is presented alongside performance comparisons with conventional approaches.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: machine learning, Hall-effect sensor array, electromagnetic levitation system, microcrontroller, TinyML
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA75 Electronic computers. Computer science
Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software
T Technology > T Technology (General)
T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Divisions: Academic Areas > Department of Engineering, Computing and Design
Academic Areas > Vice Chancellor's Group
Research Entities > Centre for Future Technologies
SWORD Depositor: Publications Router Jisc
Depositing User: Publications Router Jisc
Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2025 16:52
Last Modified: 02 Dec 2025 16:52
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/8305

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