Magniflux Shuttle

Our topic is based on electromagnetic propulsion. Elements included as part of this

project are copper, neodymium and carbon.

Our model:

Using the elements mentioned above, we have come up with a way for shuttles for
transport in the city to be built.

Working of the model:

The model consists of a copper coil, neodymium magnets, and an AAA battery, the
magnets are connected to each end of the battery such that their north poles are the
open ends, and in opposite directions. When the “train car” is pushed into the coil,
the magnets conduct and electric current around the coil, which creates a magnetic
field only around the “train car”. This field has its own north and south poles. So
when the of one magnet points in the south-pole of the magnetic field, it repels that
magnet. This provides a net force in one direction that propels the “train car” in one
direction along the copper coil. If the “train car” is inserted into the coil in the opposite
direction, it wouldn’t go through the coil because the net magnetic force would be
directed outwards. The carbon fibre wrapped tightly around the magnets ensures
that the frictional force is low and that the current floe between the coil, magnet and
battery is not disrupted as it conducts electricity as well. The carbon fibre can be
manufactured in such a way that it allows the magnetic fields to pass through it, but
does not severely affect the magnetic forces in play in any way.

Commercialization in the future/Applications:

This principle can be applied to build shuttles at airports to facilitate the movement of
people from the airport to the cities in an effective manner. This has the potential to
be a fully automated system, thereby allowing transport in cities to become smooth,
and at the same time developing the infrastructure of the airport.

When it comes to military purposes, this principle can be used for creating
projectiles. The idea is not a new one, but we have tried to adapt into our model to
showcase how this can be done. This principle allows to fire projectiles at greater
speeds without having to use chemical propellants. This also means that the
projectile can be made lighter.

Reasons for our choice of topic and materials

1. Properties of Copper which are advantageous

 Low resistance
 High conductivity
 Doesn’t rust
 Malleable and ductile
 Easily available
2. Properties of Neodymium which are advantageous
 Ferromagnetic
 Curie temperature increases when alloyed with transition metals
 Forms an allow, Nd2Fe14B which has very high resistance to
demagnetisation; Nd2Fe14B is stronger than Alnico magnets
 Has large magnetic dipole moment due to 4 unpaired electrons, which
gives it a high saturation magnetisation
 Exceptionally high uniaxial magneto crystalline anisotropy