803 research outputs found

    A prototype of an energy-efficient MAGLEV train : a step towards cleaner train transport

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    The magnetic levitation (MAGLEV) train uses magnetic field to suspend, guide, and propel vehicle onto the track. The MAGLEV train provides a sustainable and cleaner solution for train transportation by significantly reducing the energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions as compared to traditional train transportation systems. In this paper, we propose an advanced control mechanism using an Arduino microcontroller that selectively energizes the electromagnets in a MAGLEV train system to provide dynamic stability and energy efficiency. We also design the prototype of an energy-efficient MAGLEV train that leverages our proposed control mechanism. In our MAGLEV train prototype, the levitation is achieved by creating a repulsive magnetic field between the train and the track using magnets mounted on the top-side of the track and bottom-side of the vehicle. The propulsion is performed by creating a repulsive magnetic field between the permanent magnets attached on the sides of the vehicle and electromagnets mounted at the center of the track using electrodynamic suspension (EDS). The electromagnets are energized via a control mechanism that is applied through an Arduino microcontroller. The Arduino microcontroller is programmed in such a way to propel and guide the vehicle onto the track by appropriate switching of the electromagnets. We use an infrared-based remote-control device for controlling the power, speed, and direction of the vehicle in both the forward and the backward direction. The proposed MAGLEV train control mechanism is novel, and according to the best of our knowledge is the first study of its kind that uses an Arduino-based microcontroller system for control mechanism. Experimental results illustrate that the designed prototype consumes only 144 W-hour (Wh) of energy as compared to a conventionally designed MAGLEV train prototype that consumes 1200 Wh. Results reveal that our proposed control mechanism and prototype model can reduce the total power consumption by 8.3 x as compared to the traditional MAGLEV train prototype, and can be applied to practical MAGLEV trains with necessary modifications. Thus, our proposed prototype and control mechanism serves as a first step towards cleaner engineering of train transportation systems

    Infrastructure Design, Signalling and Security in Railway

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    Railway transportation has become one of the main technological advances of our society. Since the first railway used to carry coal from a mine in Shropshire (England, 1600), a lot of efforts have been made to improve this transportation concept. One of its milestones was the invention and development of the steam locomotive, but commercial rail travels became practical two hundred years later. From these first attempts, railway infrastructures, signalling and security have evolved and become more complex than those performed in its earlier stages. This book will provide readers a comprehensive technical guide, covering these topics and presenting a brief overview of selected railway systems in the world. The objective of the book is to serve as a valuable reference for students, educators, scientists, faculty members, researchers, and engineers

    Fault tolerant computer control for a Maglev transportation system

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    Magnetically levitated (Maglev) vehicles operating on dedicated guideways at speeds of 500 km/hr are an emerging transportation alternative to short-haul air and high-speed rail. They have the potential to offer a service significantly more dependable than air and with less operating cost than both air and high-speed rail. Maglev transportation derives these benefits by using magnetic forces to suspend a vehicle 8 to 200 mm above the guideway. Magnetic forces are also used for propulsion and guidance. The combination of high speed, short headways, stringent ride quality requirements, and a distributed offboard propulsion system necessitates high levels of automation for the Maglev control and operation. Very high levels of safety and availability will be required for the Maglev control system. This paper describes the mission scenario, functional requirements, and dependability and performance requirements of the Maglev command, control, and communications system. A distributed hierarchical architecture consisting of vehicle on-board computers, wayside zone computers, a central computer facility, and communication links between these entities was synthesized to meet the functional and dependability requirements on the maglev. Two variations of the basic architecture are described: the Smart Vehicle Architecture (SVA) and the Zone Control Architecture (ZCA). Preliminary dependability modeling results are also presented

    Investigation to enhance sustainable improvements in high speed rail transport

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    Transport systems are essential for the life of modern societies and economies. A sustainable transport system can shape a sustainable development pattern and socio-economic attributes of urban centres and regions. The use of private cars and trucks is increasing in most countries, creating more congestion, accidents, pollution and energy consumption. Many governments desire to achieve growth in public transport to overcome these adverse trends. A massive shift toward an environmentally sound type of transport is crucial and railways are deemed to be one of the most sustainable modes. All over the world the railway industry is involved in a renewal to reform and up-date rail, prompted largely by environmental concerns. The trend is to develop speed-competitive systems to expand transportation capacity. The focus of the current research, which is at its commencing stages, is to investigate the opportunities to apply an alternative approach to railway operations to overcome the difficulty of high speed transport in servicing larger amounts of demand, while achieving minimum point to point travel time, in a viable and integrated environment for both passenger and freight services. The expected outcome of the research project is to present a framework that may be used to identify and evaluate the most cost-effective transport solution to service not only major cities, but also regional centres along an interregional rail corridor, thus providing greater benefits on local economies and to build a spine for future development

    High-Speed Projects in the United States: Identifying the Elements for Success-Part 1, MTI Report 05-01

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    For almost half a century, high-speed ground transportation (HSGT) has held the promise of fast, convenient, and environmentally sound travel for distances between 40 and 600 miles. While a number of HSGT systems have been developed and deployed in Asia and Europe, none has come close to being implemented in the United States. Yet this is not for lack of trying. There have been several efforts around the country, most of which have failed, some of which are still in the early stages, and a few of which might come to pass. The goal of this study was to identify lessons learned for successfully developing and implementing high-speed rail (HSR) in the United States. Through a broad literature review, interviews, and three specific case studies—Florida, California, and the Pacific Northwest—this study articulates those lessons and presents themes for future consideration

    Extending maintenance intervals of track switches utilising multi-channel redundancy of actuation and sensing

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    A concept for a novel track switch arrangement has been developed at Loughborough University, which, through a novel locking arrangement, allows parallel, multi-channel actuation and locking functions for the first time. This switch has been developed as part of the REPOINT project, and is referred to as the REPOINT switch. Existing track switches generally use a single-channel actuator and lock, and undergo an intensive maintenance and inspection regime to ensure an acceptable level of reliability/availability. This paper demonstrates, through mathematical modelling with very conservative assumptions, that an increase in switch availability is possible alongside a corresponding decrease in ongoing maintenance intensity using the REPOINT multi-channel approach. The paper firstly introduces the theory behind the design of the REPOINT switch, using a switch with 2-out-of-3 redundant actuation and sensing channels as an example. An existing switch is analysed using real-world data as a benchmark. Availability is determined by the target time in which Maintenance Teams must have replaced any failed components, expressed herein as Ď„. Availability measures are obtained as functions of Ď„ which show the range of possible switch availability against maintenance response times, for the given set of assumptions. The results show that for a REPOINT installation, gains in system availability are possible even when response times are set many times longer than current standards, indicating a significant reduction in ongoing maintenance cost

    Model predictive control of magnetic levitation system

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    In this work, we suggest a technique of controller design that applied to systems based on nonlinear. We inform the sufficient conditions for the stability of closed loop system. The asymptotic stability of equilibrium and the nonlinear controller can be applied to improvement the stability of Magnetic Levitation system(MagLev). The MagLev nonlinear nodel can be obtained by state equation based on Lagrange function and Model Predictive Control has been used for MagLev system

    Magnetic Suspension and Self-pitch for Vertical-axis Wind Turbines

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    Fault management via dynamic reconfiguration for integrated modular avionics

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    The purpose of this research is to investigate fault management methodologies within Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) systems, and develop techniques by which the use of dynamic reconfiguration can be implemented to restore higher levels of systems redundancy in the event of a systems fault. A proposed concept of dynamic configuration has been implemented on a test facility that allows controlled injection of common faults to a representative IMA system. This facility allows not only the observation of the response of the system management activities to manage the fault, but also analysis of real time data across the network to ensure distributed control activities are maintained. IMS technologies have evolved as a feasible direction for the next generation of avionic systems. Although federated systems are logical to design, certify and implement, they have some inherent limitations that are not cost beneficial to the customer over long life-cycles of complex systems, and hence the fundamental modular design, i.e. common processors running modular software functions, provides a flexibility in terms of configuration, implementation and upgradability that cannot be matched by well-established federated avionic system architectures. For example, rapid advances of computing technology means that dedicated hardware can become outmoded by component obsolescence which almost inevitably makes replacements unavailable during normal life-cycles of most avionic systems. To replace the obsolete part with a newer design involves a costly re-design and re-certification of any relevant or interacting functions with this unit. As such, aircraft are often known to go through expensive mid-life updates to upgrade all avionics systems. In contrast, a higher frequency of small capability upgrades would maximise the product performance, including cost of development and procurement, in constantly changing platform deployment environments. IMA is by no means a new concept and work has been carried out globally in order to mature the capability. There are even examples where this technology has been implemented as subsystems on service aircraft. However, IMA flexible configuration properties are yet to be exploited to their full extent; it is feasible that identification of faults or failures within the system would lead to the exploitation of these properties in order to dynamically reconfigure and maintain high levels of redundancy in the event of component failure. It is also conceivable to install redundant components such that an IMS can go through a process of graceful degradation, whereby the system accommodates a number of active failures, but can still maintain appropriate levels of reliability and service. This property extends the average maintenance-free operating period, ensuring that the platform has considerably less unscheduled down time and therefore increased availability. The content of this research work involved a number of key activities in order to investigate the feasibility of the issues outlined above. The first was the creation of a representative IMA system and the development of a systems management capability that performs the required configuration controls. The second aspect was the development of hardware test rig in order to facilitate a tangible demonstration of the IMA capability. A representative IMA was created using LabVIEW Embedded Tool Suit (ETS) real time operating system for minimal PC systems. Although this required further code written to perform IMS middleware functions and does not match up to the stringent air safety requirements, it provided a suitable test bed to demonstrate systems management capabilities. The overall IMA was demonstrated with a 100kg scale Maglev vehicle as a test subject. This platform provides a challenging real-time control problem, analogous to an aircraft flight control system, requiring the calculation of parallel control loops at a high sampling rate in order to maintain magnetic suspension. Although the dynamic properties of the test rig are not as complex as a modern aircraft, it has much less stringent operating requirements and therefore substantially less risk associated with failure to provide service. The main research contributions for the PhD are: 1.A solution for the dynamic reconfiguration problem for assigning required systems functions (namely a distributed, real-time control function with redundant processing channels) to available computing resources whilst protecting the functional concurrency and time critical needs of the control actions. 2.A systems management strategy that utilises the dynamic reconfiguration properties of an IMA System to restore high levels of redundancy in the presence of failures. The conclusion summarises the level of success of the implemented system in terms of an appropriate dynamic reconfiguration to the response of a fault signal. In addition, it highlights the issues with using an IMA to as a solution to operational goals of the target hardware, in terms of design and build complexity, overhead and resources

    Towards a Pythonic framework for control and analysis of magnetic levitation systems

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    openLa levitazione magnetica rappresenta una tecnologia affascinante con applicazioni in diversi settori, dalla ricerca scientifica all’industria. Questa tesi si concentra sulla creazione di un software in Python per il controllo e l’analisi della levitazione magnetica. Verranno presentati i fondamenti matematici che governano la levitazione magnetica e verr`a fornita un’implementazione Python open-source disponibile su GitHub. Saranno discussi i principali ostacoli nell’implementazione del software in Python, evidenziando le differenze rispetto all’uso di MATLAB. Verranno eseguite comparazioni tra le simulazioni effettuate con il software e i risultati ottenuti con MATLAB, con un’analisi delle differenze di velocit`a tra le due piattaforme. Uno dei principali risultati emersi dalla ricerca `e che Python risulta pi`u lento rispetto a MATLAB nell’esecuzione delle simulazioni di levitazione magnetica. Questo problema sar`a esaminato in dettaglio e saranno proposte soluzioni per migliorare le prestazioni del software Python. In particolare, verranno considerate le tecniche di compilazione Just-in-time (JIT) per accelerare l’esecuzione del codice. Questa tesi analizzer`a diverse approssimazioni per le funzioni ellittiche ellipk ed ellipe utilizzate nel software e ne comparer`a l’accuratezza e le prestazioni. Infine sono state eseguite simulazioni del controllore LQR in MATLAB e in Python. L’obiettivo principale di questo lavoro `e costruire un framework completo in Python per il controllo e l’analisi della levitazione magnetica, con l’ambizione di contribuire al progresso della ricerca in questo campo.Magnetic levitation represents a fascinating technology with applications in various fields, from scientific research to industry. This thesis focuses on the development of a Python software framework for the control and analysis of magnetic levitation systems. We will present the mathematical foundations governing magnetic levitation and provide an open-source Python implementation available on GitHub. We will discuss the major challenges in implementing the software in Python, highlighting the differences compared to MATLAB. Comparisons will be made between simulations performed using the software and results obtained with MATLAB, with an analysis of the speed differences between the two platforms. One of the key findings of this research is that Python is fundamentally slower than MATLAB in executing magnetic levitation simulations. This issue will be examined in detail, and solutions will be proposed to enhance the performance of the Python software. In particular, Just-in-time (JIT) compilation techniques will be considered to accelerate code execution. This thesis will analyze different approximations for the elliptic functions ellipk and ellipe used in the software, and compare their accuracy and performance. In the end, the LQR controller was simulated using MATLAB and Python. The primary objective of this work is to construct a comprehensive Python framework for the control and analysis of magnetic levitation, with the ambition of contributing to the advancement of research in this field
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