Maglev

Geek Out

Shanghai’s Maglev Train: Astonishingly Fast

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11:00AM September 12, 2011 | Alex Kidman

Maglev vehicles are undeniably cool. I’d assumed that Gizmodo would already have a writeup of Shanghai’s expensive but slightly pointless Maglev airport train, but I was wrong. So while I was in Shanghai last week, I took a little train trip. More »


Geek Out

Is This Is A Floating Car Or A Low-Flying Plane?

11:20AM May 13, 2011 | Adrian Covert

This robot has been developed by Japanese researchers to take advantage of ‘ground effects’, which allows the craft to hover off the ground at an extremely low height, thereby avoiding friction. More »


Cars

Skypods. The Future Of Urban Transport?

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2:00PM September 24, 2009 | Chris Oaten

Reducing our reliance on cars. With magnets. At up to 240km/h. All still hypothetical, of course, but worth checking in on at Phsyorg (via Digg). We think El Jobso might have something to say about the name, though. I mean, hey, it rhymes with iPod. There’s a battle for brand identity right there.


Cars

One-Person Maglev Car, Like Riding a 480KPH Roller Coaster to Work

2:40AM October 2, 2008 | Mark Wilson

It sure looks like a roller coaster, but this maglev (magnetic levitation) car is more likely in development for personal transportation. By Tyco and Gakken, the maglev system suspends the car 2-3 centimeters above the track, propelling the rider forward without friction. Since the fastest record for a full-blown maglev train is 580 kph, my guess is that an open cockpit like this one could make for one hell of a bug-faced ride. Maybe that face squeegee startup isn’t such a crazy investment after all. [nikkei BP via NewLaunches]

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Cars

Transportation Bill Gives US$45 Million To Maglev Project, Sets It Up For Fail

2:00AM June 8, 2008 | Gizmodo US Edition

A new transportation bill signed by Bush on Friday would free up US$45 million to build the U.S.’s first maglev train. The train will travel between Disneyland and Las Vegas at up to 480 kph and is meant to help ease traffic on the 400+ kilometre ride on Interstate 15. While I’m all for high-speed trains and efficient public transportation, isn’t the Bush administration forgetting something?

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Science

Maglev Haptic Control Technology Could be Used for Microsurgery, Robot Control

10:15AM March 6, 2008 | Adrian Covert

Gadget Lab got a hands-on demo with prototype magnetic levitation haptic control unit at Carnegie Mellon University, where they got a simulated feel for 3D rabbits, hard surfaces and vinyl records. In addition to simulating the general shapes of objects, the technology can accurately reproduce qualities like texture and elasticity using an interesting dual joystick setup.

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Cars

JR Central Says World’s Fastest Maglev Train Arrives in 2025

1:04AM December 27, 2007 | Wilson Rothman

It may be the world’s fastest, a maglev bullet train capable of exceeding 500 kph (310 mph), but it feels like the world’s slowest to arrive. JR Central announced today that it would deploy its maglev system in 2025 to carry commuters between Tokyo and central Japan (despite one test of the technology resulting in a crash, and the death of 23 people, last year). The cost will not be minimal either—about $50 billion—which is why the company’s stock fell nearly 9% after it made the announcement. And the Japanese government can’t/won’t bankroll it. In the meantime, the maglev train in Shanghai may get longer and faster, and proposed projects in Germany and even the US could take off too. [AFP/SMH]

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