Abstract: Transport apparatus having at least one levitation generator and at least one drive generator. The at least one levitation generator configured to generate a levitating magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one lifting member, and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux. The at least one drive generator configured to generate a driving magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one drive member, and laterally move relative to the at least one drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux. At least a portion of the at least one levitation generator is movable relative to the at least one drive generator.

Abstract: A transport system including at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member is presented. The at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member can each be implemented with other systems. The at least one drive generator is configured to: generate a driving magnetic flux; move with a corresponding at least one drive member; and be driven relative to the at least one drive member by the driving magnetic flux. The at least one levitation generator can be configured to: generate a levitating magnetic flux; move within a corresponding at least one lifting member; and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux.

Abstract: Drive generator having a helical magnetic array. Additionally, a coupling portion is coupled to the drive generator and configured to be coupled to a vehicle. A drive member is configured to be at least partially located within the at least one drive generator, whereby the drive member is magnetically coupled to the at least one drive body. Furthermore, a prime mover is coupled to the drive member and configured to rotate the drive member, thereby imparting motion, when a portion of the drive member is located within the at least one drive generator, of the at least one drive generator relative to the drive member.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A transport system including at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member is presented. The at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member can each be implemented with other systems. The at least one drive generator is configured to: generate a driving magnetic flux; move with a corresponding at least one drive member; and be driven relative to the at least one drive member by the driving magnetic flux. The at least one levitation generator can be configured to: generate a levitating magnetic flux; move within a corresponding at least one lifting member; and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux.

Abstract: Transport apparatus having at least one levitation generator and at least one drive generator. The at least one levitation generator configured to generate a levitating magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one lifting member, and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux. The at least one drive generator configured to generate a driving magnetic flux, move within a corresponding at least one drive member, and laterally move relative to the at least one drive member in response to the driving magnetic flux. At least a portion of the at least one levitation generator is movable relative to the at least one drive generator.

Abstract: A track switch for a magnetic levitation transport system includes a trunk segment of track, an upper branch segment of track, a lower branch segment of track, and a divergent zone. The divergent zone has coextensive spaced rails extending from the trunk segment and splitting into upper rails extending to the upper branch segment, and lower rails extending to the lower branch segment, so that a vehicle engaging the rails and entering the switch at the trunk segment is guided and magnetically levitated to a selected one of either the upper branch segment or the lower branch segment.

Abstract: A transport system including at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member is presented. The at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member can each be implemented with other systems. The at least one drive generator is configured to: generate a driving magnetic flux; move with a corresponding at least one drive member; and be driven relative to the at least one drive member by the driving magnetic flux. The at least one levitation generator can be configured to: generate a levitating magnetic flux; move within a corresponding at least one lifting member; and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux.

Abstract: An electric power generation system may be constructed of multiple similar generator modules arranged between a rotor and a stator. The rotor may be coupled to and/or integrated with a turbine that is configured to rotate in the presence of a fluid stream such as wind or water. Each generator module may have a rotor portion configured to generate a magnetic field having at least one characteristic that changes with respect to the rotational speed of the rotor. Each generator module may further have a stator portion configured to generate an alternating electric current responsive to the magnetic field. The generated electric current may be controlled by the stator portion of the generator module in order to magnetically control the rotational speed of the rotor and the turbine. Separation between the rotor and stator portions of the generator module may be magnetically maintained.

Abstract: A transport system including at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member is presented. The at least one guideway, at least one levitation generator, at least one lifting member, at least one drive generator, and at least one drive member can each be implemented with other systems. The at least one drive generator is configured to: generate a driving magnetic flux; move with a corresponding at least one drive member; and be driven relative to the at least one drive member by the driving magnetic flux. The at least one levitation generator can be configured to: generate a levitating magnetic flux; move within a corresponding at least one lifting member; and elevate above a rest position relative to the at least one lifting member in response to the levitating magnetic flux.

Abstract: An electric power generation system may be constructed of multiple similar generator modules arranged between a rotor and a stator. The rotor may be coupled to and/or integrated with a turbine that is configured to rotate in the presence of a fluid stream such as wind or water. Each generator module may have a rotor portion configured to generate a magnetic field having at least one characteristic that changes with respect to the rotational speed of the rotor. Each generator module may further have a stator portion configured to generate an alternating electric current responsive to the magnetic field. The generated electric current may be controlled by the stator portion of the generator module in order to magnetically control the rotational speed of the rotor and the turbine. Separation between the rotor and stator portions of the generator module may be magnetically maintained.

Abstract: The networked guideway transit system uses materials and methods of constructing guideway elements. The materials and methods are designed to reduce the static weight, cost and physical size of the guideway structure. Installation cost is also significantly reduced by the modular nature of the guideway components, which can be manufactured in a controlled factory environment using mass production methods. As a result, the supporting structure of the guideway can be quickly erected and the modular blocks inserted with simple equipment. In addition, complex alignment procedures are not required. In particular, the guideway component includes motor coils having the shapes and configurations that facilitate the easy insertion of the guideway component without the need for interleaving coils in adjacent guideway components and without creating dead spots in the magnetic fields between guideway components.

Abstract: An electric power generation system may be constructed of multiple similar generator modules arranged between a rotor and a stator. The rotor may be coupled to and/or integrated with a turbine that is configured to rotate in the presence of a fluid stream such as wind or water. Each generator module may have a rotor portion configured to generate a magnetic field having at least one characteristic that changes with respect to the rotational speed of the rotor. Each generator module may further have a stator portion configured to generate an alternating electric current responsive to the magnetic field. The generated electric current may be controlled by the stator portion of the generator module in order to magnetically control the rotational speed of the rotor and the turbine. Separation between the rotor and stator portions of the generator module may be magnetically maintained.

Abstract: A switch is used, at the divergent zone, to cause the vehicle bogie to follow one path or the other in the guideway. This is accomplished by substituting an attracting magnetic array on the side that the vehicle bogie is desired to follow. The switch may operate without moving parts, so there is no inertial penalty to limit operational frequency. The switch is designed to fail gracefully in the absence of activation power or control signals. Further, the switch is designed to ensure that there would be no derailment or dropping of a vehicle.

Abstract: A networked guideway transit system uses permanent magnet repulsion with induction-based repulsion within the networked guideway transport system, which can levitate passively with motion. Magnetic levitation technology is used to replace wheels as the primary means of vehicle suspension. The networked guideway transit system uses the permanent magnets to provide primary lift and uses electrodynamic repulsion to create centering forces at most operational speeds while integrating linear motor functions with the electrodynamic centering function. Further, the networked guideway transit system uses no moving parts in the guideways, which enhances reliability in the guideways.

Abstract: A networked guideway transit system uses permanent magnet repulsion with induction-based repulsion within the networked guideway transport system, which can levitate passively with motion. Magnetic levitation technology is used to replace wheels as the primary means of vehicle suspension. The networked guideway transit system uses the permanent magnets to provide primary lift and uses electrodynamic repulsion to create centering forces at most operational speeds while integrating linear motor functions with the electrodynamic centering function. Further, the networked guideway transit system uses no moving parts in the guideways, which enhances reliability in the guideways.

Abstract: A networked guideway transit system uses permanent magnet repulsion with induction-based repulsion within the networked guideway transport system, which can levitate passively with motion. Magnetic levitation technology is used to replace wheels as the primary means of vehicle suspension. The networked guideway transit system uses the permanent magnets to provide primary lift and uses electrodynamic repulsion to create centering forces at most operational speeds while integrating linear motor functions with the electrodynamic centering function. Further, the networked guideway transit system uses no moving parts in the guideways, which enhances reliability in the guideways.

Abstract: A networked guideway transit system uses permanent magnet repulsion with induction-based repulsion within the networked guideway transport system, which can levitate passively with motion. Magnetic levitation technology is used to replace wheels as the primary means of vehicle suspension. The networked guideway transit system uses the permanent magnets to provide primary lift and uses electrodynamic repulsion to create centering forces at most operational speeds while integrating linear motor functions with the electrodynamic centering function. Further, the networked guideway transit system uses no moving parts in the guideways, which enhances reliability in the guideways.

Abstract: A switch is used, at the divergent zone, to cause the vehicle bogie to follow one path or the other in the guideway. This is accomplished by substituting an attracting magnetic array on the side that the vehicle bogie is desired to follow. The switch may operate without moving parts, so there is no inertial penalty to limit operational frequency. The switch is designed to fail gracefully in the absence of activation power or control signals. Further, the switch is designed to ensure that there would be no derailment or dropping of a vehicle.

Abstract: The networked guideway transit system uses materials and methods of constructing guideway elements. The materials and methods are designed to reduce the static weight, cost and physical size of the guideway structure. Installation cost is also significantly reduced by the modular nature of the guideway components, which can be manufactured in a controlled factory environment using mass production methods. As a result, the supporting structure of the guideway can be quickly erected and the modular blocks inserted with simple equipment. In addition, complex alignment procedures are not required. In particular, the guideway component includes motor coils having the shapes and configurations that facilitate the easy insertion of the guideway component without the need for interleaving coils in adjacent guideway components and without creating dead spots in the magnetic fields between guideway components.