An electrodynamic wheel: an integrated propulsion and levitation machine

The rotation of permanent magnets above a conducting nonmagnetic surface such as aluminum creates a traveling time varying magnetic field that can inductively produce levitation and propulsion forces simultaneously. These forces could be used to create a relatively cheap form of Maglev transportation as the track does not need to be electrified and both the levitation and propulsion are created by the one mechanism. Although large amounts of current are necessarily induced in the track, simulations have shown that this method of Maglev appears to use less energy than electrodynamic Maglev systems while at the same time creating large propulsion forces. The use of Halbach magnets enables a sufficient levitation to weight ratio to be attained.