This invention powers road transportation vehicles with an electromagnetic roadway by means of magnetic propulsion. The vehicle contains an on-board magnet, and the roadway contains an array of electromagnets and an electrical power source. The vehicle is propelled in motion by the interaction between the vehicles on-board magnet and the activated electromagnets in the roadway. The electromagnets in the roadway are normally idle, and only activate when a vehicle signals that it is in range. Sequential electromagnetic activation can be viewed as electromagnetic pulses along the path of the vehicle in motion. The energy to activate the electromagnets can come from a rechargeable power source that can be charged via solar, making it very energy conscious.

This invention powers road transportation vehicles with an electromagnetic roadway by means of magnetic propulsion. The vehicle contains an on-board magnet, and the roadway contains an array of electromagnets and an electrical power source. The vehicle is propelled in motion by the interaction between the vehicles on-board magnet and the activated electromagnets in the roadway. The electromagnets in the roadway are normally idle, and only activate when a vehicle signals that it is in range. Sequential electromagnetic activation can be viewed as electromagnetic pulses along the path of the vehicle in motion. The energy to activate the electromagnets can come from a rechargeable power source that can be charged via solar, making it very energy conscious.

An independent cart system with safety functions prevents unintended motion independently within different sections of the track while permitting motion along other sections of the track. A safety controller receives one or more input signals corresponding to operating conditions along the track. A safety program executing in the safety controller monitors the state of the input signals to determine whether a safety function is to be executed. When a safety program is executed, the safety controller transmits an output signal to one or more segment controllers present in one section along the track. Each segment controller is responsible for regulating current flow to the coils mounted to the corresponding track segment. In response to the signal from the safety controller, each segment controller in the section controls the power output to the coils along that section of track to achieve the safe operation desired in that segment.

An independent cart system with safety functions prevents unintended motion independently within different sections of the track while permitting motion along other sections of the track. A safety controller receives one or more input signals corresponding to operating conditions along the track. A safety program executing in the safety controller monitors the state of the input signals to determine whether a safety function is to be executed. When a safety program is executed, the safety controller transmits an output signal to one or more segment controllers present in one section along the track. Each segment controller is responsible for regulating current flow to the coils mounted to the corresponding track segment. In response to the signal from the safety controller, each segment controller in the section controls the power output to the coils along that section of track to achieve the safe operation desired in that segment.

Techniques for injecting a vehicle into a high speed transportation system are described. A travel request is received from a user. The user is determined to be authorized to travel using the high speed transportation system, based on a profile associated with the user. An injection portal for the user to enter the transportation system is identified. One or more instructions for the user are provided, relating to the injection portal. A vehicle associated with the user is identified at the injection portal. Characteristics of the vehicle are sensed at the injection portal, including a center of gravity of the vehicle. The characteristics are determined to satisfy threshold values, and the vehicle is authorized for travel in the transportation system. A vehicle profile is generated. The vehicle profile is transmitted to a second controller associated with the transportation system. The vehicle is injected into the transportation system.

A hybrid electrodynamic levitation system that utilizes both superconducting and conductive tracks. The hybrid system reduces the overall drag induced upon the system and reduces the amount of power required to achieve operating speeds, while resolving the issue of requiring velocity relative to the track for levitation. The total initial and operating costs of the hybrid system can be lower than utilizing a superconductive or conductive track alone, while still enabling a fail-safe levitation system for high speed transportation.

A hybrid electrodynamic levitation system that utilizes both superconducting and conductive tracks. The hybrid system reduces the overall drag induced upon the system and reduces the amount of power required to achieve operating speeds, while resolving the issue of requiring velocity relative to the track for levitation. The total initial and operating costs of the hybrid system can be lower than utilizing a superconductive or conductive track alone, while still enabling a fail-safe levitation system for high speed transportation.

An airlock system that includes a plurality of adjacent chambers successively arranged along a guide path. Predetermined pressures are produced in each chamber so that the predetermined pressure in each chamber is at a pressure different from the predetermined pressure produced in an adjacent chamber. Gate valves are positioned to separate adjacent chambers in order to maintain a pressure differential between the adjacent chambers.

An airlock system that includes a plurality of adjacent chambers successively arranged along a guide path. Predetermined pressures are produced in each chamber so that the predetermined pressure in each chamber is at a pressure different from the predetermined pressure produced in an adjacent chamber. Gate valves are positioned to separate adjacent chambers in order to maintain a pressure differential between the adjacent chambers.

A vehicle guidance system and method of forming the same. The vehicle guidance system includes a transport guideway having an at least partial tube structure; vehicle tracks; a vehicle, having a fuselage with an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, that travels over the vehicle tracks; and at least one track channel assembly arranged on an inside of the at least partial tube structure. The at least one track channel assembly is arranged so that, as the vehicle travels over the vehicle track, the at least one track channel assembly is located between the uppermost surface and the lowermost surface of the fuselage.