Guidance of a high speed vehicle with electrodynamic suspension

Guidance requirements for a high speed Maglev vehicle with electrodynamic suspension and linear synchronous motor propulsion are discussed. The effects of cornering, cross-winds and lateral destabilizing forces on the suspension are shown to lead to a guidance stiffness requirement of 104N/cm for small lateral displacements. This guidance force can be produced with a flat elevated guideway (desired to minimize show accumulation) by the interaction of LSM propulsion magnets and currents induced in flat nullflux loops mounted along the centre of the guideway.