Fighting over Steering Wheel...

Self driving cars, once the exclusive domain of science fiction, are now reality. Google has been working on Self Driving Car Project and tested many prototypes with modified Lexus SUVs and prototype vehicles that are designed from the ground up to be fully self driving.

Google's Self Driving Car Prototype

While Google is all set-up for launching its driverless car technology in market, California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) proposed draft of new rules for autonomous vehicle, which left Google and other staunch supporters of this technology "perplexed". Along with regulation call for safety and performance standards, the rules also call for a licensed human driver, capable of taking over the wheel and pedals in the event of an emergency. That could be problem for Google, whose driverless cars don't use pedals or steering wheels.

Company said, Google wants to transform transportation through its work to develop vehicles that can shuttle people from place to place with the push of button and reduce accidents caused by human errors; Safety is top priority and motivator in Google's driverless cars. In direct response to DMV's proposed regulation, Google executive and robotic-car expert Chris Urmson wrote a blog post Thursday on Medium.com blasting the rules as a step back from progressive 2012 state regulation that allowed for the development of occupant as passenger vehicles without a steering wheel or pedals.

According to some of the Technical Analytics, the rules shouldn't be problem. There are not millions of them on road. And as technology is in prototype stage, additional changes can be made to have steering wheel and pedals again. Also, the other automotive companies like Ford are showing interest in Google's Self Driving Cars, technology will have huge development and popularity in future.

California might be looking at the broader aspect of autonomous cars, beyond just Google and has gone more conservative with requiring an operator. But it is disappointing for technical society that, legislators are limiting the potential of fully Autonomous System. Removing "Driverless" from Driverless cars and doubting the capability to achieve its goal can be slight hold-up for development of Autonomous Technology.

Maglev Suspension Systems

Shanghai Transrapid

In previous article, we discussed the Maglev technology and principle on which it is working. Here, we will discuss about the different technologies or suspension system used to levitate the train, although the basic concept remains same. Even though Maglev looks like new, futuristic mode of transportation, concept was first proposed about a century ago by Hermann Kemper. First commercial Maglev developed by German company Transrapid International was tested in Shanghai, China, in 2002. Shanghai Transrapid is functional since December 2003, with average speed of 430 Km/h.

Several other countries have started working on Maglev projects. Enough research is going on to improve the technology to levitate the train. Engineers are testing there prototypes of train for commercial use.

Electromagnetic Suspension System (EMS):

Electromagnetic Suspension  (EMS) System

In Germany, the company named, Transrapid International had developed Electromagnetic suspension (EMS) System. In this system, the bottom of the train wraps around a steel guideway. Electromagnets attached to train's undercarriage are directed up towards the guideway, which levitates the train about 1 centimetre above the guideway. The system keeps the train levitated even when it is not moving. The system is provided with emergency battery backup in case of power failure. Other guidance magnets embedded in the train's body keep it stable during the travel. The company also has train in commercial use implementing EMS, known as Transrapid and can reach the speed of 500 Km/h with people onboard.

Electrodynamic Suspension System (EDS):

Electrodynamic Suspension  (EDS) System

US & Japanese engineers are working on a competing version of Maglev trains SCMAGLEV, that uses Electrodynamic Suspension (EDS) System. The key difference is, Japanese trains uses supercooled, superconducting electromagnets, This kind of electromagnets can conduct electricity even after the power supply is shut off. The trains using this technology can levitate nearly 10 centimetres above the guideway. But, the train using EDS, must roll on the rubber tires until it reaches a lift off speed about 100 Km/h. Also, wheels have advantages during power failure of system to slow down the train.

EDS saves the energy by cooling coils, however, also the cryogenic system use to cool the coils can be expensive. Also, passengers with pacemakers would have to be shielded from magnetic fields generated by the superconducting electromagnets.

Inductrack:

Inductrack

Inductrack is a newer type of EDS that used permanent room temperature magnets to produce the magnetic field instead of super-cooled superconducting electromagnets. Inductrack also uses auxiliary wheels to accelerate until it begins to levitate. The permanent magnets made from neodymium- iron boron, which generates intense magnetic field are used. Magnets are arranged in a Halbach array so that, the intensity of magnetic field concentrates above the array to create enough levitating force.

Introduction to MagLev - Magnetic Levitation for Transportation

Maglev Train

In last discussion, we discussed about the electromagnetic induction and application of induced eddy current in induction cooktop. Here, we will discuss about Electromagnets application in transportation field. Electromagnets are temporary magnets produced due to flow of electric current through conductor coil. It also has poles which can attract or repel depending upon the polarity. Repulsion force of the electromagnet used for levitation of objects. This electromagnetic levitation is about to bring the revolution in the transportation.

Maglev train is new way of transportation which uses magnetic levitation to transport the vehicle without touching ground. Magnetic levitation is used to create both lift and propulsion. Maglev moves more smoothly and quietly. Due to absence of friction power consumption for propulsion is relatively less and thus it holds some of high speed records for rail transportation.

Maglev Propulsion:

Maglev Guideway

Maglev is short for Magnetic Levitation. Unlike conventional train maglev do not have engine to pull cart along the track. Maglev floats over guideway using basic principle of magnetic repulsion and same used to propell the train. The magnetised coil running along the track, called guideway, repels the large magnets on the train's undercarriage, allowing the train to levitate 1 to 10 centimeters above the guideway. Once the train is levitated, power is supplied to coils within guideway walls to create a unique pattern of magnetic field that pull and push the train along the guideway. The electric current supplied to the coils in the guideway walls is alternating to change polarity of magnetized coils. This change in polarity causes magnetic field in front of train to pull the vehicle forward, while the magnetic field behind the train push the train. The propulsion is same as linear motor.

Linear Motor Propulsion for Maglev

Lack of friction and trains aerodynamic design allows the train, to reach ground speed of more than 500 km/h. In comparison, Boeing 777 can reach top speed of 905 Km/h. Developers say that Maglev will eventually link cities that are up to 1000 miles apart.

Germany and Japan both are developing maglev train technology. Although, based on similar concept, both have distinct differences in technology used to create lift and thrust. We will discuss more about it in next section.

How The Maglev Works