Japan conjures locomotive that rides on air cushion
May 13th, 2011 - 10:38 pm ICT by IANSLondon, May 13 (IANS) The Japanese, who pioneered high speed trains nearly half a century ago, have now conjured up a flying locomotive - straight out of the pages of science fiction.
The levitating locomotive sports wings and propellers and can fly along a track. It has been designed and developed by a research team led by Ysuke Sughara from Tohoku University, Japan, the Daily Mail reports.
The prototype hovers above the ground on an air cushion, which permits the weird vehicle to reach higher speeds than regular trains in the absence of friction and with less energy.
But because of the wings, the airborne locomotive has to deal with pitch, roll and yaw - like all planes - making it very difficult for the bottom of the vehicle to stay parallel with the ground.
Although the prototype has a built-in system that counteracts unwanted movement of the wings and tries to stabilise the three axes of the vehicle, it is still streamlined enough for a smooth ride.
This vehicle is not the first to use the concept of floating above the track. Maglev trains use powerful electromagnets to make the vehicle ride on air.
The levitating locomotive actually takes advantage of the air shooting beneath it and uses it to help forward momentum.
- China makes its own magnetic train - Jan 21, 2012
- Wheel-less trains for Delhi Metro planned - Dec 07, 2011
- 'Indigenous jet trainer to get initial clearance by July' - Feb 10, 2011
- China's first indigenously built Maglev train ready for launch - Apr 09, 2010
- British police using 'ghost trains' to catch thieves - Nov 28, 2011
- US developing 'flying' armoured vehicle - Dec 02, 2010
- Metro to introduce eight coach trains by June - Jan 12, 2012
- Navy launches first fighter jet that uses electromagnetism, not steam - Dec 25, 2010
- Indian Railways to get its most powerful diesel locomotive - Sep 26, 2011
- US tests electricity-fired long-range weapon - Feb 29, 2012
- New Delhi-Howrah Rajdhani engine develops snag, derails - Aug 30, 2010
- China rolls out powerful locomotive - Mar 08, 2012
- Why doesnt railways implement the anti-collision device, asks designer - Aug 13, 2010
- US firm to develop flying cars for military - Dec 01, 2010
- Obama tells New York Times scribe he's levitating! - May 14, 2010
Tags: air cushion, axes, daily mail, electromagnets, forward momentum, friction, half a century, high speed trains, locomotive, pitch roll, planes, propellers, prototype, science fiction, smooth ride, tohoku, tohoku university japan, unwanted movement, wings, yaw