The possibility of overcoming wheel friction, wear, and vibration by contactless suspension for passenger-carrying mass-transit vehicles is being investigated throughout the world. One design uses a magnetic suspension with an attraction force between the vehicle and the guide way with an accurately controlled air gap. A system is shown in Figure P10.25, which incorporates feedback compensation. Using root locus methods, select a suitable value for K1and h so the system has a damping ratio for the under damped roots of ζ = 0.50. Assume, if appropriate, that the pole of the air gap feedback loop (s = -200) can be neglected.
