FeòragMar 5, 2024

Return of the Gyroscopic Monorail

Back at the very start of the 20th century, several inventors were working on monorails that stayed upright by using gyroscopes. It's taken nearly 120 years, but a new gyroscopic monorail is being developed in Germany.

https://feorag.wordpress.com/2024/03/05/return-of-the-gyroscopic-monorail/

Return of the Gyroscopic Monorail

Back at the very start of the 20th century, several inventors were working on monorails that stayed upright by using gyroscopes. It’s taken nearly 120 years, but a new gyroscopic monorail is …

Forsyth's Compendium of Curious Contraptions
Show threadGraydonMar 5, 2024
@feorag I can't read most of their materials, alas, but find the English ones disturbingly coy about how these things are to be powered. Do they explain how one gets tracks people can step over without electrocution risks?
Show threadCharlie Stross
@graydon @feorag I'm guessing batteries? These things are light, with much lower rolling resistance than car tires, and presumably run at < 100km/h. So an electric car sized battery would be good to run one all day, then charge back at the depot.
Mar 5, 2024 at 3:11pmWeb
Show threadGraydonMar 5, 2024
@cstross @feorag That was my initial guess, too, and then I hit the parts supplier talking about the massive-DC-to-three-phase inverter they make and which is included in the rolling stock to drive the motors, which made me start to wonder about hot rails.
Show threadMichael KohneMar 5, 2024
@graydon @cstross @feorag They can't be using a hot rail - they've got nothing to use as a ground!
Show threadMichael KohneMar 5, 2024
@graydon @cstross @feorag Besides, if you have an electric train, you use AC on the rails/catenary/whatever because the losses from using DC would be profound.
Show threadGraydonMar 5, 2024

@mhkohne @cstross @feorag You can always use the other rail.

I mean, you shouldn't, but you can.

Or you can get clever and run conductors down both sides of the rail, or who knows.

Show threadMichael KohneMar 5, 2024
@graydon @cstross @feorag Yes, if you are building new, but in this case they are a single rail device, designed to make use of existing rails. So, for these guys, it can't be an electrified rail.
Show threadS.P.ZeidlerMar 5, 2024
@graydon @cstross @feorag the German text says they are to use batteries.
Show threadGraydonMar 5, 2024

@spz @cstross @feorag Thank you!

Another application where low mass is useful.

[ETA mass low in the vehicle, though I suppose the "not weighing very much" meaning would also apply.]