Abstract: A switch for vehicles is provided. In particular, a switch for a levitation rail for a vehicle is provided. The switch comprises: a straight rail; a curved rail, curving away from the straight rail, the straight rail and the curved rail comprising magnetic material to magnetically interact with a motor of the vehicle; and a magnetic gap between the straight rail and the curved rail, the magnetic gap comprising a region, at which the straight rail and the curved rail meet, of lower magnetic permeability relative to the straight rail and the curved rail.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electric vehicle. The method includes obtaining by a controller of the electric vehicle a first state indicator of a state of the electric vehicle, receiving at the controller a status indicator of an operating status of the electric vehicle, and updating by the controller the state of the electric vehicle based on the status indicator to an updated state. The updated state may be associated with a second state indicator. The method also includes determining by the controller a given braking type of a braking to be applied to the electric vehicle. This determining may be based on one or more of the second state indicator and the status indicator. The method also includes applying to the electric vehicle the braking of the given braking type. Systems for applying such braking are also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a method for actuating a component of a vehicle. The method may include applying an initial force to the component to actuate the component, and generating a movement indicator based on whether the component moves in response to the initial force. Moreover, the method may include receiving a freezing indicator associated with a likelihood of the component being immobilized due to freezing. If the movement indicator is negative and the freezing indicator is affirmative, the method also includes applying an adjusted force to the component to mobilize the component.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating battery packs. One example method includes obtaining voltages of batteries of the battery pack, which includes a plurality of the batteries connected to a circuit. The method also includes obtaining an output current to be output from the battery pack and selecting a subset of the batteries capable collectively of providing the output current. The subset includes one or more selected batteries selected from among the plurality of the batteries. The subset has a subset voltage being substantially similar to a voltage of each of the selected batteries. The subset may be selected such that the selected batteries have substantially similar voltages and the subset voltage is maximized. The method also includes drawing the output current from the subset of the batteries. Other methods and systems for operating a battery pack are also provided.

Abstract: An electromagnetic machine for generating force is provided. The electromagnetic machine includes a magnet having opposing sides extending along a longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes a pair of ferromagnetic bodies respectively extending along the opposing sides of the magnet, and along the longitudinal axis, each of the ferromagnetic bodies comprising: a back-iron portion; and a pole portion extending from the back-iron portion. The magnet and the ferromagnetic bodies include reciprocal retention devices at the opposing sides along the longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes electrical windings around respective pole portions of the ferromagnetic bodies, the electrical windings around the respective pole portions being independently controllable. The electromagnetic machine includes at least one cold plate configured to thermally isolate the magnet from the electrical windings.

Abstract: Replaceable windings (101) for an electromagnetic machine (100) are provided. A replaceable winding (101) comprises a body (107) having a longitudinal axis (105), the body (107) comprising opposing surfaces along the longitudinal axis (105). The replaceable winding (101) further comprises an aperture (119) through the body (107), between the opposing surfaces, the aperture (119) having generally parallel internal sides about perpendicular to the opposing surfaces of the body (107), the aperture (119) configured to removably received a pole portion (109) of the electromagnetic machine (100). The replaceable winding (101) further comprises electrical conductors wound about the aperture (119) in the body (107). The replaceable winding (101) further comprises electrical connectors (123) at one or more external sides of the body (107), the electrical connectors (123) connected to the electrical conductors.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an electric vehicle. The method includes receiving a regenerative braking activation indicator. If the regenerative braking activation indicator is affirmative, the method includes applying regenerative braking at an initial level to an electric motor of the electric vehicle. The method also includes obtaining a vehicle motion parameter of the electric vehicle measured when the regenerative braking is being applied. In addition, the method includes changing the regenerative braking to a modified level based on the vehicle motion parameter.

Abstract: There is provided a method of operating an electric device. The method includes receiving one or more operating power levels being used by one or more loads on a given circuit of the electric device, and setting a power threshold based on the one or more operating power levels. The method also includes receiving an output power level being delivered to the given circuit by a power source connected to the given circuit, and comparing the output power level with the power threshold. Furthermore, the method includes, if the output power level exceeds the power threshold, reducing the output power level to less than or equal to the power threshold. A related power regulator is also provided.

Abstract: A channel segment for a track of a mover device is provided, the channel segment comprising: opposite ends joined by a body forming a magnetic flux pathway between the opposite ends, the magnetic flux pathway being one or more of C-shaped, U-shaped and horseshoe shaped between the opposite ends, the opposite ends forming respective transverse magnetic flux pathways about perpendicular to the magnetic flux pathway; laminations of ferromagnetic material forming the body, the laminations about parallel to the magnetic flux pathway and about perpendicular to the respective transverse magnetic flux pathways; shear pins through the laminations, the shear pins positioned to reduce eddy currents one or more of in and around the shear pins; and a retention mechanism at the opposite ends, the retention mechanism configured to transversely fasten the laminations together at the opposite ends while remaining insulated from each other.

Abstract: There are provided methods and systems for operating battery packs. One example method includes obtaining voltages of batteries of the battery pack, which includes a plurality of the batteries connected to a circuit. The method also includes obtaining an output current to be output from the battery pack and selecting a subset of the batteries capable collectively of providing the output current. The subset includes one or more selected batteries selected from among the plurality of the batteries. The subset has a subset voltage being substantially similar to a voltage of each of the selected batteries. The subset may be selected such that the selected batteries have substantially similar voltages and the subset voltage is maximized. The method also includes drawing the output current from the subset of the batteries. Other methods and systems for operating a battery pack are also provided.

Abstract: There are provided robot swarms and methods of operating thereof. Such a swarm may include two or more robots each having a microphone, a speaker, and a communication terminal for sending or receiving an electromagnetic signal to or from a communication partner to affect electromagnetic communication with the communication partner. Upon detection of a disruption to the electromagnetic communication, a given robot of the two or more robots may switch from electromagnetic communication to acoustic communication by exchanging an acoustic signal between one of the speaker and the microphone of the given robot and one of a corresponding microphone and a corresponding speaker of a corresponding communication partner.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing system for controlling magnetic coupling between a mobile carriage and a guideway. The magnetic bearing system includes at least two engines successively arranged in a travel direction, wherein each of the at least two engines comprises at least two poles. The at least two engines have centerlines in the travel direction that are fixedly offset from each other, and the at least two engines are configured to be magnetically coupled to the guideway through air gaps.

Abstract: There is provided a powered device and an energy absorbing device (EAD) for a powered device. The powered device includes an actuator to power a rotatable shaft coupled to a working member, a housing to house the actuator, a structural member to be coupled to the housing, and an EAD. The EAD is disposed between the housing and the structural member. The EAD is to absorb at least a portion of an impact energy of the working member striking an obstacle. Moreover, the EAD is to absorb the portion of the impact energy by being plastically deformed by the portion of the impact energy.

Abstract: There is provided a method comprising receiving at a controller an input comprising a channel output from an input channel of a vehicle. The input is triggered by an operation of the vehicle by an operator. The input channel has a corresponding direct operational manifestation. The method also comprises comparing at the controller the input with a set of input patterns to select from the set of input patterns a target input pattern corresponding to the input, and generating at the controller a control output corresponding to the target input pattern. The control output is configured to cause in the vehicle a target operational manifestation different than the direct operational manifestation. Furthermore, the method comprises sending the control output from the controller to the vehicle.

Abstract: An electromagnetic actuator for generating force is provided. The electromagnetic actuator includes a ferromagnetic body extending along a longitudinal axis, the ferromagnetic body comprising: a back-iron portion; and a pair of pole portions, extending from the back-iron portion, the back-iron portion connecting the pair of pole portions. The electromagnetic actuator further includes one or more magnetic-flux changing components at the pole portions, a respective magnetic-flux changing component located at a respective pole face, the respective magnetic-flux changing component configured to change magnetic flux density at a respective track-facing surface relative to the respective pole face. The electromagnetic actuator further includes electrical windings around the pole portions.

Abstract: An electromagnetic machine for generating force is provided. The electromagnetic machine includes a magnet having opposing sides extending along a longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes a pair of ferromagnetic bodies respectively extending along the opposing sides of the magnet, and along the longitudinal axis, each of the ferromagnetic bodies comprising: a back-iron portion; and a pole portion extending from the back-iron portion. The magnet and the ferromagnetic bodies include reciprocal retention devices at the opposing sides along the longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes electrical windings around respective pole portions of the ferromagnetic bodies, the electrical windings around the respective pole portions being independently controllable. The electromagnetic machine includes at least one cold plate configured to thermally isolate the magnet from the electrical windings.

Abstract: Replaceable windings (101) for an electromagnetic machine (100) are provided. A replaceable winding (101) comprises a body (107) having a longitudinal axis (105), the body (107) comprising opposing surfaces along the longitudinal axis (105). The replaceable winding (101) further comprises an aperture (119) through the body (107), between the opposing surfaces, the aperture (119) having generally parallel internal sides about perpendicular to the opposing surfaces of the body (107), the aperture (119) configured to removably received a pole portion (109) of the electromagnetic machine (100). The replaceable winding (101) further comprises electrical conductors wound about the aperture (119) in the body (107). The replaceable winding (101) further comprises electrical connectors (123) at one or more external sides of the body (107), the electrical connectors (123) connected to the electrical conductors.

Abstract: A channel segment for a track of a mover device is provided, the channel segment comprising: opposite ends joined by a body forming a magnetic flux pathway between the opposite ends, the magnetic flux pathway being one or more of C-shaped, U-shaped and horseshoe shaped between the opposite ends, the opposite ends forming respective transverse magnetic flux pathways about perpendicular to the magnetic flux pathway; laminations of ferromagnetic material forming the body, the laminations about parallel to the magnetic flux pathway and about perpendicular to the respective transverse magnetic flux pathways; shear pins through the laminations, the shear pins positioned to reduce eddy currents one or more of in and around the shear pins; and a retention mechanism at the opposite ends, the retention mechanism configured to transversely fasten the laminations together at the opposite ends while remaining insulated from each other.

Abstract: There are provided electric motors each having a rotor, a stator, and a plurality of conductive windings each disposed around a corresponding tooth of the stator. The rotor is to rotate about an axis of rotation defining an axial direction. The rotor includes a backiron and a plurality of magnets secured to an inner surface of the backiron. The stator is disposed inside the rotor and centered about the axis of rotation. The stator includes a plurality of teeth each extending radially relative to the axis of rotation towards the inner surface of the backiron and terminating in a corresponding tooth end disposed proximal to the inner surface.

Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling an electric motor having a rotor and a stator. The method includes controlling the motor in a low-speed mode by injecting a high frequency (HF) signal into the motor. The HF signal may have an initial voltage and an initial frequency. The method may also include obtaining a speed of the rotor relative to the stator, and obtaining a reference input being sent to the motor. Moreover, the method may include comparing the speed and the reference input with a speed threshold and a reference input threshold respectively. In addition, the method may include reducing at least one of the initial voltage and the initial frequency if the speed is below the speed threshold and the reference input is below the reference input threshold, to reduce an acoustic noise caused by injecting the HF signal into the electric motor.