Actively controlled pantograph: an application

An active control for a high speed train pantograph is proposed in order to improve power collection at high speed (i.e. V>220 km/h) allowing the speedup of the existing lines. The control is based on an available commercial actuator, and its feasibility and effectiveness have been investigated by means of numerical simulation. For this purpose, the dynamics of the actuator (a permanent DC motor) has been included in a detailed pantograph-catenary interaction model.