Decoupling Control of Maglev Train Based on Feedback Linearization

The controlled air-gap of the electromagnetic suspension maglev train is generally 8-10 mm, which makes the effect of the vehicle-track dynamic coupling significant. It is found that the track irregularities especially the track step will make the controlled air-gap of the suspension system fluctuate off the setting air-gap. When the situation is even worse, the suspension gap will fluctuate beyond the limit so that the electromagnet or the supporting slide crashes with the track which results in noise and poor ride comfort. By analyzing the gap response of the module suspension system caused by the track step, it is found that the gap fluctuation of the rear point is more significant than the front point. In other words, the suspension gap of the rear point is affected by the front point and the two suspension points couple with each other. To solve the coupling problem between the front and back points, the decoupling controller based on the feedback linearization theory is proposed. The simulation and experiment show that the decoupling controller has an excellent decoupling effect. At the same time, the simulation shows that the decoupling controller can weaken the gap fluctuation when the module suspension system through the track step.