MagLev-Cobra Operational Tests

The Brazilian project MagLev-Cobra proposes a superconducting levitation vehicle for urban transportation in highly populated cities. The levitation technology is based on the diamagnetic behavior and flux pinning property of Y-Ba-Cu-O blocks in the proximity of the magnetic field of Nd-Fe-B magnets. The traction is given by a short primary linear induction motor. In previous editions of EUCAS conference, laboratory tests were presented to validate the levitation method and vehicle design. In this paper, recent operational results of the MagLev-Cobra traveling along an outdoor 200-m test facility constructed in the university campus will be reported. The full-scale vehicle is composed of four modules, interconnected by mechanical links. The transportation capacity is equivalent to 5 passengers/m
²
, a limit of transportation comfort and quality. Acceleration, braking, and also cruising speed conditions were analyzed. A data acquisition system monitored the levitation gap and other parameters along the track. This effort is an important step to certificate the operational safety, an indispensable condition before industrialization and commercialization.