This paper investigates the operating modes and converter options of dual winding permanent magnet synchronous machines (DWPMSMs) that are used to drive accessories in hybrid electric vehicles. In this application, DWPMSM operate in three different modes: motor-only; generator-only; and simultaneous motor-generator modes. Motor-only and generator-only operations can be treated independently as long as two winding sets are magnetically decoupled. Simultaneous motor-generator mode links two winding sets through a mechanical shaft. As part of this study, the impact of dual winding set usage on the machine's output and performance is also investigated. Experimental results are given for each mode. The converter options of generator winding were investigated as well. These options include uncontrolled rectifier with dc-dc converter and controlled rectifier. Two converters are compared for their impacts on efficiency and generator current harmonics. The relationship between speed and converter control variable is given for various back electromotive force constant values of the DWPMSM.

In recent years, considerable research efforts have been invested in airborne wind energy systems (AWES) due to traditional wind turbine technologies’ technical and economic limitations. This study describes the design process of a multimode electrical machine for a Fly-Gen AWES, employing a multi-physics approach analytical model with a multi-objective genetic algorithm. The design process integrates an analytical electromagnetic model for a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) within a multiphysics framework, incorporating thermal and mechanical constraints. To enhance the power density, the design utilizes a cobalt-iron magnetic material. The proposed method is evaluated with various constraints to validate its versatility successfully. Subsequently, a 2.5 kW motor/generator unit is optimized under a 600 V DC voltage condition and verified with 2D finite element method (FEM) analysis. The optimized machine achieves a power density of 1.8 kW/kg with an efficiency of 96%. Thermal analysis confirms that the winding and magnet temperatures remained below the critical temperature thresholds in successive motor and generator operations. Similarly, mechanical strength analysis results in satisfying mechanical limits. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed efficient and reliable machine design method.

This paper presents the design and experimental validation of a self-contained rotating Halbach array—based demonstrator for electrodynamic suspension (EDS) systems. The proposed platform was developed to bridge the gap between conventional externally powered laboratory testbeds and large-scale EDS vehicles by enabling investigation of levitation behavior under realistic onboard mass and subsystem integration constraints. The system integrates rotating circular Halbach arrays, onboard power supply, sensing, motor control, and structural support within a single levitated architecture. Experimental validation was conducted under a constrained one-degree-of-freedom configuration allowing vertical motion only. The system achieved stable levitation of a 35 kg platform and supported additional payloads approaching a 1:2 ratio relative to the baseline mass, while maintaining air-gap stability within approximately ±0.1 mm. The experimental results further reveal that the operational limit of the system is governed by actuation power and current constraints rather than electromagnetic levitation capability, highlighting a key distinction between self-contained and externally powered EDS systems. The proposed demonstrator provides a compact and practical experimental platform for the validation and performance evaluation of Halbach-array-based EDS systems. In addition, the study presents practical engineering insights regarding payload distribution, actuator saturation, structural integration, and system-level design constraints relevant to future self-contained EDS platforms and control-oriented levitation systems.

Recent advances in transportation technologies highlight the demand for faster and more efficient systems. Magnetic levitation has emerged as a key enabler in high-speed concepts such as the Hyperloop by eliminating mechanical contact, reducing friction, and improving stability. Among the different approaches, electrodynamic suspension (EDS) with Halbach array permanent magnets offers a promising solution for contactless high-speed travel, yet accurately modeling its nonlinear levitation dynamics remains challenging. This study compares a physics-based analytical model with a data-driven fuzzy logic model for a rotating Halbach array EDS system. An analytical lift-force expression is derived from electromagnetic principles and validated via three-dimensional (3D) finite-element simulations and static experiments, and a dynamic model is formulated to relate levitation gap to rotor speed. In parallel, an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is trained on experimental input–output data. Experimental evaluation on an independent test record shows that the fuzzy model achieves a lower root mean square error (RMSE) than the analytical model (0.0298 mm vs. 0.1064 mm). This gap reflects limits of analytical models using simplified assumptions (e.g., uniform magnetization and idealized conductivity), missing nonlinear, frequency-dependent effects. By learning directly from experimental measurements, the ANFIS model captures the aggregate influence of unmodeled nonlinearities and experimental effects within the investigated operating range. Consequently, the ANFIS-based model provides a more accurate representation of the measured levitation dynamics under the tested conditions, indicating its potential for real-time modeling and control applications in EDS systems.