Levitation

The system uses attractive levitation, known as the EML or EMS approach, in which electromagents attached to the vehicle are mounted on appendages that hold them under the steel rails on the guideway. When current is applied to the electromagnets, the vehicle is lifted. The air gaps between the magnets and the track must be constantly monitored and the levitation current continually updated using feedback control in order to hold the desired gap.

Decentralized Control

The levitation controller is decentralized, meaning that each of the magnets has its own feedback loop, based on measurements local to that magnet alone. The control loops run simultaneously with an update rate of 10,000 times per second.

Propulsion

 Linear Induction Motors (LIM) mounted on the vehicle are used for propulsion. A variable frequency drive in the vehicle powers the LIMs and controls their speed. LIMs are similar to commonly used rotational 3 phase induction motors with their coils arranged in a straight line instead of a circle, so that they provide rectilinear propulsion.