Abstract: A vehicle has a rotary magnetic field member which is rotatably supported at a position near the surface of a roadway along which the vehicle runs and rotatingly driven by a driving device. The rotary magnetic field member has magnetic poles of different polarities alternately arranged around its circumference. The vehicle also has an electrical power collector for receiving electrical power from an electrical power supply associated with the roadway. The received electrical power is supplied under the control of a controller to the driving device thereby rotatably driving the rotary magnetic field member. The rotary magnetic field member when rotated relative to the roadway made of an electrically conductive non-magnetic material, forms a varying magnetic field in cooperation with the roadway, thereby generating propulsion force for propelling the vehicle and force for suspending the vehicle, so that the vehicle is propelled in a floating state.

Abstract: A vehicle with a noncontact drive mechanism includes a magnetic propelling device 7 for generating a propelling force derived from magnetic induction of an eddy current within a reaction plate 4 laid on a road surface, without contact between the magnetic propelling device and the reaction plate; a flux changing device 13 for changing magnetic flux of the magnetic propelling device; a chassis supporting device for holding a chassis with respect to the road surface; and running-direction control devices 3, 5 for controlling the direction of running of the vehicle. The vehicle is adapted to run by generating a magnetic force in noncontact with the reaction plate.