From the viewpoint of shortening passengers’ traveling time and improving convenience for railroad users, we are investigating computer support for operation planning and operation management of railway passenger transport by applying mathematical programming methods, such as graph theory and appllication of dynamic programming, in cooperation with railway technical research institute, domestic as well as foreign railway operators, and other universities. We are also working on research on a method for constructing a system that supports operation controllers by analyzing and evaluating from the passengers’ perspective: “smart train control” that provides high frequency operation and robust operation stability against disturbances in Communication Based Train Control, and operation management when train operation is disturbed, using computers, and a method to improve the quality of public transportation services by providing information to passengers with various needs using recent information technology.

We are studying the relationship between operation planning and electric energy control in cooperation with external organizations and conducting experiments. We have proposed an energy-saving train operation as a solution to the optimization problem, and have applied it not only for theoretical studies, but also to the operation of urban railroads and subways with automatic operation functions throughout Japan, and have confirmed energy-saving effects of more than ten percent compared to conventional operations. Currently, we are actively promoting the practical application of the energy-saving operation method proposed by our laboratory through the proposal of automatic train operation to our engineering society.

In order to design a linear motor with the highest performance, it is important to have sofisticated three-dimensional magnetic circuits, which require time-consuming and heavy three-dimensional numerical calculations. The optimization of complex geometries requires a large number of design parameters to be explored, and efficient design optimization methods are important. In our laboratory, we have developed such a method, and designed and fabricated a new linear synchronous motor with a view of extention to a multi-dimensional drive. We are also studying control methods to stabilize the electromagnetic suction levitation that supports the motor, and linear motor control that improves position control performance in combination with the magnetic levitation.

A linear synchronous machine using permanent magnets has been attracting attention in the field of machine tools as an actuator suitable for high-precision motion control because of its high efficiency, light weight, and large thrust among linear motors. The transverse flux type motor, called the transverse-flux LSM, is suitable for direct drive with large thrust. With the cooperation of the National Maritime Research Institute (NMRI) and Hitachi, Ltd., we are trying to realize a permanent magnet transverse-flux synchronous generator, and continue research on a control method to maximize the power generated by properly grasping the ocean wave conditions, as well as a generator design for a prototype test at ocean, assuming electric propulsion technology and ocean power generation using this direct drive. We are continuing our study on the control method to maximize the power generation by properly understanding the ocean wave conditions and the generator design for the prototype test at ocean.

Led by my young colleague, assistant professor Dr. Ohnishi, who joined the laboratory in 2019, we are conducting new research on the application of advanced motion control technologies, such as data-based system identification methods, preaction to suppress the oscillatory inverse response of non-minimal phase systems using a non-causal control engineering approach, and iterative learning control, to various industrial requirements through international collaboration with universities in Japan and Eindhoven Technical University in the Netherlands, and joint research with engineers from semiconductor and machine tool manufacturers.