Patent Application
20190337395
The present disclosure relates generally to a levitation system, in particular a levitation system that uses a superconductor to generate a magnetic field.
Self-powered vehicles are commonly used for transportation. Ground transportation vehicles, such as automobiles, are in wide use. Although ground transportation is often desired for its flexibility and ability to reach a very large number of destinations, it is generally restricted to particular routes. For example, cars and buses must use roads, not only because of traffic regulations but also because cars and buses require a clear path of travel due to their relatively limited ability to navigate obstacles that would otherwise appear on a travel path. Such obstacles include both naturally occurring objects (such as vegetation or rocky terrain) but also artificially occurring objects (such as buildings). Accordingly, ground transportation vehicles travel along pre-defined travel paths that avoid such obstacles. Because of this, the path of travel for ground transportation obstacles is not necessarily the shortest or straightest path to a given destination. The increased distance required to travel increases both the time it takes for a passenger to travel but also increases the fuel consumed by the vehicle during travel.
However, vehicles for air transportation are relatively rarer because they are generally more expensive to manufacture (in part because air transportation vehicles are much larger than ground transportation vehicles) and are more expensive to operate. Although air transportation vehicles can easily avoid ground-based obstacles, air travel is generally restricted to longer distances, given the relatively high operational costs and because most ground locations are not suitable for the takeoffs and landings of air transportation vehicles, given size and terrain constraints. However, an air transportation vehicle which is of a similar size as a ground transportation vehicle could achieve the benefits of air travel while avoiding some of the additional costs currently associated with long-range air travel.
The following presents a general summary of aspects of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the present disclosure. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the present disclosure in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
According to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a levitation system includes a platform including a superconductor material; a hydrogen generator mounted on a first surface of the platform; an optical interface system mounted on at least a second surface of the platform, the optical interface system including at least one light source configured to emit light having a predetermined wavelength, and a plurality of magnetized light reflectors configured to transmit magnetized light by reflecting the emitted light from the at least one light source; an electricity generator electrically coupled to at least one battery, the at least one battery configured to provide power to the optical interface system; and a controller including a memory and a processor, the controller configured to control the hydrogen generator, the optical interface system, and the electricity generator to cause the optical interface system to generate a magnetic field associated with the emitted light to repel a magnetic field of the superconductor material. Magnetized light transmitted by the plurality of magnetized light reflectors is useable for generating a magnetic field around the platform.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle for levitated transportation includes a passenger compartment; a superconducting material mounted to a surface of the passenger compartment; pipes configured to receive a flow of liquid hydrogen throughout the superconducting material and thereby maintain a temperature of the superconducting material below a critical temperature of the superconducting material; an optical interface system mounted to the surface of the passenger compartment; and a controller including a memory and a processor, the controller configured to control the optical interface system. The optical interface system includes at least one laser source and at least one magnetized laser reflector. The at least one magnetized laser reflector is configured to reflect light emitted from the at least one laser source to create a combined magnetic field below around the surface of the passenger compartment that repels a magnetic field of the superconducting material.
According to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for levitating a vehicle includes the steps of cooling a superconducting material below a critical temperature of the superconducting material, the superconducting material being mounted on a surface of the vehicle; emitting magnetized light from a light source mounted on at least the surface of the vehicle; reflecting the magnetized light from the light source using at least one magnetized light reflector; generating a magnetic field between the surface of the vehicle and a ground surface; and repelling the surface of the vehicle away from the ground surface based on the magnetic field repelling the superconducting material.
Features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.
Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and implementations of exemplary devices and methods. The various concepts introduced above and discussed in greater detail below may be implemented in any of numerous ways, as the described concepts are not limited to any particular manner of implementation.
Referring generally to the figures, systems and methods for levitating a vehicle which includes a superconductor for generating a magnetic field are described. A superconductor is a material which is characterized by zero electrical resistivity when a temperature of the material is below a critical temperature. A superconductor also exhibits the property of diamagnetism; that is, superconductors are perfect diamagnets with a magnetic susceptibility of −1. A diamagnet is characterized by the generation of a repulsive force in a material which is subjected to an applied magnetic field. The repulsive force is caused by the quantum mechanical effect by which an applied magnetic field creates an induced magnetic field in the material which is directly opposed to the direction of the applied magnetic field. Diamagnetism is also characterized by a magnetic permeability less than unity and by a negative magnetic induction.
Quantum locking or quantum levitation refers to the phenomenon of a superconductor material perfectly matching an applied magnetic field. Due to the Meissner effect, which is only exhibited by type I superconductors, when a superconductor material is cooled below a critical temperature of the material and when an applied magnetic field is subsequently applied to the superconductor, a magnetic field inside the superconductor becomes zero. The magnetic field within the superconductor falls to zero because superconducting currents on the surface of the superconductor produce a second magnetic field that cancels out the applied magnetic field. Using this effect, magnetic levitation can be achieved due to the repulsion between a permanent magnet which produces the applied magnetic field and the magnetic field produced by the induced currents inside the superconductor.
A laser beam is a very narrow light beam which is coherent and intense. The coherence renders a laser beam useful in the production of holograms, which are patterns of light interference produced by a beam of radiation which has been split. Additionally, a laser beam can be used to levitate objects; if the laser beam is sufficiently focused on a region of space, the laser beam can generate a push or a pull force on an object. However, laser levitation has been restricted to levitation of only very small objects (for instance, microscopic or nanoscopic particles) because of the large energy demands required to generate the focused laser beam for levitating the particles. Laser levitation usually requires a combination of carefully manipulated foot acoustic waves to levitate. By focusing the laser light pulses, an electric field (for example, on the orders of magnitude greater than those found within atoms) can be generated. The high energy photons produced by this process interact with the strong laser field and create electron-positron pairs. While it has not been feasible to use laser beams in the levitation of larger-scale macroscopic objects, such as vehicles used for transportation, the present solution can overcome these shortcomings. For example, the present solution can be used in various applications, including transportation applications, using a quantum locking mechanism combined with laser levitation, to provide a low-cost form of transportation which is easily adaptable to many different contexts and which allows for a reduction in energy costs associated with current transportation systems.
A hologram, as used herein, refers to a pattern of light interference which is produced by a beam of radiation (for example, a laser) which has been split or an image produced by the pattern of light interference.
As shown in
Referring to
Because the platform 10 is made of a superconductor material, the platform 10 is capable of levitation. When the superconducting material of the platform 10 absorbs liquid hydrogen at zero point, a quantum gravity field is created. The generated quantum gravity field is useable in generating the holograms produced by the optical interface system, as is described in more detail below.
As shown in
A hydrogen generator 20 is mounted on the top surface 11 of the platform 10. The hydrogen generator 20 is fluidly coupled to the storage tank 25 and is configured to provide a flow of liquid hydrogen to the storage tank 25. As shown in
A hydrogen separator 22 is fluidly coupled to the water extractor 21 and is configured to receive a flow of water from the water extractor 21. The hydrogen separator 22 is configured to separate the hydrogen and oxygen which constitute the water. To accomplish the separation process, the hydrogen separator 22 includes a catalyst device 23, as shown in
The system 1 also includes a propulsion system 60, such as a mechanical propulsion system. The propulsion system 60 is configured to propel the platform in a lateral direction (that is, in a direction approximately parallel to a ground surface). As shown in
In some embodiments, propulsion system 60 includes a piezoelectric system. The piezoelectric system can include a cylinder including an inlet to receive at least one of a liquid or hydrogen gas, such as an inlet coupled to the storage tank 25. The piezoelectric system can include a superconducting material, and can include a magnet that is adjacent to (e.g., below) the superconducting material. When hydrogen is received in the superconductor via the inlet, the hydrogen is cooled, providing a repulsive magnetic field, and causing the Meissner effect and a flux pinning phenomenon. The piezoelectric system includes an actuator (e.g., hydraulic actuator, mechanical actuator) that can compress the superconducting material (which may be suspended in the air and/or on the magnet), resulting in a pressure/mechanical force that the piezoelectric system can convert into electricity. The force and/or electricity can be sent to a battery, or to the electricity generator 30 discussed below. The controller 50 discussed below can monitor data regarding operation of the piezoelectric system, such as to control a flow rate of the hydrogen to the piezoelectric system, mechanical hardness of the piezoelectric system, and/or an energy level associated with operation of the piezoelectric system.
The system 1 also includes an electricity generator 30 which is mounted on the top surface 11 of the platform 10, as is shown in
Referring to
The optical interface system 40, including the light source 42 and the light reflectors 43, is configured to produce an applied magnetic field which automatically magnetizes light emitted from the light source 42 and projects the magnetized light below the platform 10. The projected magnetized light can be in the form of a 3D hologram which uses the intensity of magnetized light rays that form a magnetic well. As one example, the optical interface system 40 is configured to project a laser light tractor beam which is useable in repelling the platform 10 from a ground surface. The optical interface system 40 is also configured to combine multiple light pulses together (for example, by using a synthesizer), and create a light field which includes light pulses.
The optical interface system 40 is configured to produce a holographic magnetic-sensitive image and project the holographic magnetic sensitive image at an acute angle onto a surface (such as a ground surface) over or above which the system 1 is oriented. The holographic magnetic sensitive image includes a holographic image which includes at least one coherent light beam 44 and which simulate separate 2D hologram images to create a 3D magnetic holographic image. The controller 50 (described below) is configured to control a direction and/or intensity of the light beam 44 when it is emitted and/or projected. In addition, the light reflectors 43 (such as deformable mirrors) are configured to be controllable by the controller 50 to control a direction in which the at least one light beam 44 is reflected. The total field size of the projected image is scaled with the wavelength of the light used to illuminate the ground; for example, red light is diffracted more by spatial light modulation pixels of the optical interface system than the blue light, and thus gives rise to a larger total field size. Additionally, there may be provided an optical holographic-sensitive imaging platform (not shown) which is configured to reflect the surface (e.g., a ground surface) on which a modulated electromagnetic image is projected. The optics and the use of magnetic light allows a remote tactile detection system to be hidden behind a black transmitter window, and the infrared light does not diminish the visual appearance of the holographically displayed image.
When the temperature of the platform 10 is lowered, the superconductor of the platform 10 expels the magnetic field of the hologram projected by the optical interface system 40, thereby levitating the platform 10 above the ground surface. For example, when the optical interface system 40 creates a magnetic field due to the magnetized light beams 44, the cooled superconductor of the platform 10 repels the magnetic field and generates a force which repels the magnetic field of the hologram between the platform 10 and the ground surface. In this manner, the superconductor platform 10 is levitated off the ground by creating a repulsive magnetic force which conserves a magnetic flux within the superconductor and decreases the magnetic flux field outside the superconductor.
Accordingly, the optical interface system 40 is configured to transmit 3D images by projecting the magnetized light beams 44 below the platform 10. The magnetized light beams 44 which create the 3D electromagnetic hologram generates an intensity of magnetic attraction below the superconductor of the platform 10 and creates a magnetic force when the superconductor reaches zero-point field. The magnetic force results in a repulsive force between the platform and the magnetic field, thereby levitating the platform.
As shown in
As shown in
The controller 50 is also configured to send a signal to the electricity generator 30. For example, the controller 50 is configured to control a flow (e.g., a rate of flow) from the hydrogen generator 20 to the electricity generator 30 such that the platform 10 remains at or below the zero-point cold temperature of the superconductor material. The controller 50 is also configured to send a signal to the optical interface system 40 to produce magnetized laser beams to produce a 3D hologram useable for levitating the platform 10. The controller 50 is programmable to combine and manage all of the various components of the system 1 and allows for simultaneous execution of a variety of control tasks. The controller 50 is programmable to combine and calculate the distance between the platform 10 and a ground surface. Additionally, the controller 50 is programmable to control holographic fields of the light beam 44 to maintain a distance between the platform and the ground surface.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle for levitated transportation is shown in
The vehicle 100 can be any commercially available vehicle made of any suitable material. For example, the vehicle 100 can be made of a superconductive material, plastic material, glass, or metal. The interior of the passenger compartment 101 vehicle 100 includes an aerial control system (not shown) for controlling the motion of the vehicle 100, for example, by an operator of the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is also configured to be placed on any object (for example, when the vehicle 100 is parked and not in use), and the vehicle 100 is configured to float above any surface.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a method 800 for levitating a vehicle (such as the vehicle 100 using the system 1, described above) is illustrated in
As utilized herein, the terms “approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of the disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described and claimed without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided. Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and claimed are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure as recited in the appended claims.
The terms “coupled,” “connected,” and the like are used herein to mean the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary (e.g., permanent) or moveable (e.g., removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another.
References herein to the position of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the Figures. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.
It is to be understood that although the present invention has been described with regard to embodiments thereof, various other embodiments and variants may occur to those skilled in the art, which are within the scope and spirit of the invention, and such other embodiments and variants are intended to be covered by corresponding claims. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, mounting arrangements, use of materials, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for clarity.
The present disclosure claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/665,062, titled “A LEVITATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME,” filed May 1, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62665062 | May 2018 | US |
