The Hyperloop Makers UPV team, from the Universitat Politécnica de Valencia, took part in the SpaceX international challenge for the development of the Hyperloop ultra-fast train and was awarded the Top Design Concept and the Propulsion/Compression Subsystem Technical Excellence Awards. The goal of the competition, launched by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, is to perfect its revolutionary land transport system, driven by compressed air and to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco in 30 minutes.
Whereas the majority of the competing teams opted for passive magnetic levitation or designing the passenger pod suspended on air bearings, Hyperloop UPV developed a system that enables levitation through the magnetic attraction of the pod to the top of the tube. This rail-free solution saves up to 30% on Hyperloop tube construction costs.
modeFRONTIER helped the team select the optimum design in terms of travel experience, maximizing energy efficiency while accelerating design iterations and development time.
The engineering challenge consisted in providing the base design for a 30-passenger cabin travelling as fast as possible through a vacuumed tube. The technological solutions, in terms of comfort for the travelers subject to such high acceleration and cruise speed, were investigated by the team, assisted by advanced multiobjective optimization techniques. The proposed design for the Hyperloop pod uses an innovative magnetic levitation system. It consists of permanent magnets and electromagnets that can generate a controlled lift that enables pod levitation (figure 1). The propulsion system includes a front compressor moved by an electric motor that captures the air intake and delivers it to a nozzle in the rear of the pod. This nozzle produces the thrust for the system.


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