Modeling, design and testing of an electrodynamic levitation system for high-speed transport

Electrodynamic levitation (EDL) is a promising technology for high-speed transportation, but its parametric design limits require robust physical validation. This paper presents the numerical modeling, physical prototyping, and experimental characterization of a novel 10-pole rotating Halbach-array disk. By evaluating rotor diameters between 100 and 200 mm across various air gaps, we quantify the resulting force profiles, Lift-to-Drag (L/D) ratios, and the underlying dynamic effects. Findings reveal that this specific configuration reliably generates sufficient lift for a 130 kg vehicle when optimized for minimal air gaps and high rotational speeds. Discrepancies between finite element analyses and physical tests are explicitly calculated, providing a realistic design framework that accounts for manufacturing tolerances and magnet arrangement deviations in future Hyperloop applications.