Synchronized operation of a Magnetically Levitated vehicle

Magnetically Levitated (MagLev) trains driven by linear motors are a promising solution for mass transportation. Japan, with the JR-MagLev test line in Yamanashi, and Germany, with the Transrapid technology, are the leading countries in this transportation solution. Both technologies use for traction a synchronous linear motor with long primary divided into small chunks. The passage of the train between these parts must be synchronized. The necessary sensors and their positioning substantially affect the operational methodology. The vehicle must be driven with no bumps and especially without loss of synchronism during acceleration between the parts of the linear motor. In this paper, among a variety of sensors evaluated, a Hall effect switch associated with a linear velocity sensor was chosen. The synchronization was implemented in the MagLev train prototype of LASUP/UFRJ that employs a synchronous linear motor with long primary. Experimental tests confirm the viability of the proposed method.