Low Speed Maglev Technology Development Program
General Atomics, Husan Gurol, Robert Baldi, Phillip Jeter, et al.
Prepared for the Federal Transit Administration's Office of Technology (Venkat Pindiprolu, TRI20), March 2002, 59pp.
Project Number FTA-CA-26-7025-02.1

This is the first research project report to be published under the FTA Low Speed Urban Magnetic Levitation Technology Development Program (Urban Maglev Program). The overall objective of the Urban Maglev Program is to develop magnetic levitation technology that will be a cost-effective, reliable, energy-efficient, and environmentally sound option for urban mass transportation. This final report provides an overview of the progress made during the 18 months of the program. The principal subsystems investigated include: levitation, propulsion, power supply, communication and controls, guideway, and vehicle. The report provides a summary assessment of the status of Maglev technology developments in the U.S. and abroad, and provides the results of a number of trade studies performed by the General Atomics team. It also includes a summary of urban Maglev design requirements and a description of a Maglev system meeting these requirements. An engineering and construction schedule for the selected system is also provided. The General Atomics Urban Maglev system represents refinements that evolved from the Maglev technologies developed by the United States, Germany, Japan, and Korea over the last three decades. Development of magnetic levitation technology is intended to demonstrate energy efficiency, congestion mitigation, and safety benefits. 02-0322
Available From: National Technical Information Service/NTIS, Springfield, VA 22161.
Phone 703-605-6000 Fax: 705-605-6900 Email [orders@ntis.fedworld.gov]
NTIS Website [http://www.ntis.gov/]
Report Number: FTA-CA-26-7025-02.1