米国における超電導磁気浮上鉄道計画の現状

抄録

This paper presents an overview of the superconductive magnetically levitated system (maglev) program in the United States. Although the U.S. Maglev Program was once stopped in 1975, the increasing congestion in the U.S. transportation system in the late 1980's and other factors have led to a reawakening of national interest in Maglev technology. In 1990 the National Maglev Initiative (NMI) was established, and it funded 27 studies related to Maglev technologies and economics, and four System Concept Definition (SCD) studies. Technical requirements in the SCD and technologies in the SCD systems designed by teams led by Bechtel Corp., Foster-Miller Inc., Grumman Aerospace Corp. and Magneplane International, Inc. will be reviewed. A plan for the Maglev prototype development program proposed in the NMI program will be also presented.