Development of Superconducting Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) Train Prototype Controlled Using Arduino

Abstract

Train transportation has proven to have an effective performance as this type of transportation commonly chosen by the passenger to travel. Passenger can reduce cost, time and increase safety along their journey than road travel. Maglev train is a train that levitates on the magnetic rail or track. The noise pollution and derailment problem produced by the High-Speed Rail train contributed to the development of maglev trains in a developed country like Japan. A prototype of a maglev train that is driverless for educational purposes was developed in this study. Focusing on two main systems, which are Obstacle Detection System that can detect an obstacle to avoid collision to maintain the safety of the passengers and the Blynk Interface System that helps to remotely control from a smartphone. NodeMCU ESP8266 is used as the controller to control the whole systems. The result showed that the train will begin to move when the DC motor speed in PWM is 250. Moreover, the starting of the train can be controlled by the Blynk interface system and the train is able to stop when the IR sensor detects an obstacle in 28 cm and above ahead of the train.