Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

Magnetic Levitation To Be CTS Seminar Topic Friday

Magnetic Levitation

To Be CTS Seminar Topic

The future of magnetic levitation will be the topic of a seminar Friday, 
May 11, at 12:45pm in Rm 1-236 given by Professor Richard Thornton of 
electrical engineering and computer science.

Dr. Thornton has worked with Dr. Henry Kolm and others on the 
development of the NSF-supported MIT Magneplane, for which he is the 
recipient or corecipient of several patents. The system incorporates 
cryogenic magnets for levitation and propulsion and uses an active 
guideway linear  synchronous motor for propulsion and ride control.

Now working on new ideas for maglev transportation systems, Professor 
Thornton has also served as a member of the Maglev Technical Advisory 
Committee to the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He 
teaches and conducts research on the modeling and simulation of 
electronic circuitry and microprocessor controlled electromagnetic and 
electromechanical systems.

The Friday seminar is one of a series sponsored by the Center for 
Transportation Studies. An optional luncheon precedes it at noon 
($2/students; $4/others).