The development of alternative transportation methods has become paramount in the context of sustainable urban population connectivity. The promise of hyperloop as a high-speed, low-emission travel means motivates both academic and industrial interests. The present work centers on the design of hyperloop levitation systems. A component-level optimization is outlined for the appropriate selection of levitation module geometric parameters, followed by an integration into a capsule and bogie system. Two heteropolar levitation module types are numerically studied in realistic operating conditions: a hybrid electromagnet configuration with permanent magnets and a fully active one. To give means for comparison, both configurations are designed with the aid of a general multi-objective optimization approach. For the hybrid case, a position controller is synthesized with a zero-power policy and a specific frequency response function. The active configuration features comparable behavior. Two main power consumption streams are considered: gap control and magnetic drag. While the former depends on the position control effort, the latter depends on the losses of ferromagnetic elements. The two systems are compared in smooth and irregular track conditions over the studied speed range of 400–700 km/h. This study demonstrates that the hybrid heteropolar case achieves a minimum of 97.6% in specific power consumption reduction at the maximum speed of 700 km/h under smooth track conditions. Under irregular track conditions, a benefit in average specific consumption reduction is noted up to 662 km/h for the hybrid case. The maximum reduction in specific consumption is 57.2% at the minimum speed of 400 km/h.

Lane-switching in maglev systems is a key functionality necessary for their successful implementation in commercial solutions, that has largely remained unexplored in terms of experimental validation. The present work investigates a full-scale electrodynamic suspension for its use alongside a conventional electromagnetic suspension. A combined levitation system that incorporates the repulsive force of an electrodynamic suspension and the attraction-based behavior of an electromagnetic suspension facilitates high-speed vertical lane-switching capability. The passivity of electrodynamic suspensions renders them appealing for their integration in this context. A test bench designed for full-scale analysis of this process is presented. The electrodynamic suspension system is discussed, and a finite element model used for system design is established. Acquired experimental lift and drag forces are fitted using an analytical model consisting of an equivalent multi-branch electric circuit, showing good agreement between datasets. A large speed range (10-600 km/h) is tested over several air gaps (35-50 mm). Measurements at smaller air gaps (25 and 30 mm) are used to validate the analytical model. Moreover, full-scale force capability necessary for vehicle levitation is achieved.