Hermann Kemper (5 April 1892 in Nortrup – 13 July 1977) was a German engineer and pioneer in magnetic levitation sometimes known as the father of maglev.
[1] Herman Kemper began his research on magnetic levitation in 1922.
He was awarded the Reichs Patent number 643316, "Schwebebahn mit räderlosen Fahrzeugen, die an eisernen Fahrschienen mittels magnetischer Felder schwebend entlang geführt wird" (the invention of a hovertrack with wheelless vehicles which hover along iron rails using magnetic fields).
[3] This invention eventually led to the development of Transrapid.
In 1972, he received recognition for his research achievements, the Great Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.