EMS Maglev vehicle-guideway-controller model

Computer simulation studies are a useful means to investigate the safety and performance of a high-speed magnetically levitated (maglev) vehicle negotiating an elevated guideway. These studies confirm the importance of accounting for the dynamic interaction that couples the vehicle and guideway. The vehicle and guideway systems are driven by the same action/reaction magnet force inputs specified by a controller. The controller's task is to dynamically adjust these force inputs to maintain a nominal gap between the vehicle and guideway (to prevent contact and robustly accommodate disturbances) while achieving satisfactory ride quality for passengers. The critical components of the dynamically interacting system are vehicle, guideway and controller. This paper presents a summary of research designed to formulate analytical models of each of these components and to conduct computer simulation studies of an electromagnetic suspension (EMS) maglev system.