Control Method for a Twist Response Type of Electromagnetically Levitated Truck and Its Experiments Using Digital Control Theory.

Magnetically levitated railway system is receiving increased attention all over the world due to its features of low noise and easy maintenance. It was put into practical use in England to connect an airport with a city 600 miles away. TR-60 is running on an experimental line 20 km long in Emusland, West Germany. HSST of Japan Air Line was demonstrated on the curved rail at the World Fair in Vancouver, Japanese National Railway is also running an experimental line in Miyazaki. The magnetically levitated railway using normal conducting magnetics has a disadvantage (in comparison with the railway using superconducting magnets); it is difficult to widen the air-gap length. The amount of energy required to maintain levitation can be reduced by decreasing the air-gap length. In practice, including the response characteristics to the rail discontinuity at rail joints and height different due to cant. This paper discusses the features and control methods of twist response type electromagnetically levitated truck and presents its digital control performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]