General survey of the possible applications and development tendencies of magnetic levitation technology

The most important versions of the magnetic levitation technique are expounded in the following. The programme of the magnetic levitation development in the Federal Republic of Germany including the choice of the electromagnetic levitation technique and its development up to operational readiness are also described and accounted for. The present survey emphasizes the main advantages of the levitation system due to its specific characteristics, defines fields of application and shows concrete possibilities of use. Ways for an optimum development are briefly pictured.