Therefore, a first aspect provides a brake module for a magnetically suspended vehicle. The brake module comprising a first magnetically active brake element coupled to a first brake magnet actuator comprised by the brake module. The first brake magnet actuator is arranged to control the first magnetically active element to provide a first magnetic brake field of a pre-determined magnitude at a first pre-determined location relative to the brake module, of which first magnetic brake field the first field lines are, in use, substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle. By providing an Eddy current brake having magnetic field components that are substantially horizontally oriented, influence of magnetic forces excited by the Eddy currents generated on the (vertical) suspension are reduced and preferably minimised.

Therefore, a first aspect provides a brake module for a magnetically suspended vehicle. The brake module comprising a first magnetically active brake element coupled to a first brake magnet actuator comprised by the brake module. The first brake magnet actuator is arranged to control the first magnetically active element to provide a first magnetic brake field of a pre-determined magnitude at a first pre-determined location relative to the brake module, of which first magnetic brake field the first field lines are, in use, substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the vehicle. By providing an Eddy current brake having magnetic field components that are substantially horizontally oriented, influence of magnetic forces excited by the Eddy currents generated on the (vertical) suspension are reduced and preferably minimised.

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.

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.

In an electromagnetic transport system, a transport route is divided into transport sections, each including at least one transport segment. A section control unit is assigned to each transport section, and a segment controller is assigned to each transport segment. A logistics unit, specifies a destination of the transport units to the section control units via the logistics network. Section control units are connected to the segment controllers of associated transport segments via a segment network and are designed to; determine a track section for the associated transport section from the destination, determine target values using the track section and to transmit the target values to the segment controllers via the segment network. Segment controllers supply current to drive coils using target values and occurring actual values to generate a magnetic field which interacts with drive magnets of the transport units to move the transport units.

A system and method for guidance control on a wheeled bogie is disclosed herein. An electromagnetic engine may be coupled to the wheeled bogie such that the electromagnetic engine may generate magnetically attractive forces between the electromagnetic engine and the rail. The generated force may be used to increase traction for braking and climbing operations. Further, the generated force may be used to counteract hunting oscillation. Still further, the generated force may be used to counteract lift generated by the wheeled bogie operating in a turn with cant.

A system and method for guidance control on a wheeled bogie is disclosed herein. An electromagnetic engine may be coupled to the wheeled bogie such that the electromagnetic engine may generate magnetically attractive forces between the electromagnetic engine and the rail. The generated force may be used to increase traction for braking and climbing operations. Further, the generated force may be used to counteract hunting oscillation. Still further, the generated force may be used to counteract lift generated by the wheeled bogie operating in a turn with cant.

A system and method for scanning and evaluating a portion of rail operable for travel by a wheeled bogie having a plurality of electromagnetic engines. The electromagnetic engines are generally operable to generate an electromagnetic field that is operable to penetrate a rail. A resulting eddy current may be generated that is further operable to penetrate the rail. As the electromagnetic engines travel along the rail, readings from the electromagnetic field and resulting eddy current may be used to detect differences in the rail as measured with respect to a nominal rail. The defects detected may be head checks, cracks, corrosion, etc. Further, a treated rail section may be utilized to strengthen the rail itself without compromising non-destructive evaluation. The disclosed system and method may be embodied as a computer program product.

Disclosed herein are techniques for guiding a vehicle over a flight path. The techniques include receiving guideway data, such as information corresponding to a track segment, generated by one or more guideway sensors associated with a metallic track, and receiving flight path data, such as a set of 3-D space coordinates for the vehicle. The method further includes determining an amount of deviation between one or more coordinates of the flight path data and a position of the vehicle based on the guideway data, and adjusting the position of the vehicle relative to the track segment to minimize the amount of deviation in at least one dimension in the 3-D space.

Disclosed herein are techniques for guiding a vehicle over a flight path. The techniques include receiving guideway data, such as information corresponding to a track segment, generated by one or more guideway sensors associated with a metallic track, and receiving flight path data, such as a set of 3-D space coordinates for the vehicle. The method further includes determining an amount of deviation between one or more coordinates of the flight path data and a position of the vehicle based on the guideway data, and adjusting the position of the vehicle relative to the track segment to minimize the amount of deviation in at least one dimension in the 3-D space.