Hyperloop United draws attention as a Hyperloop development team of 13 members. Being made up within Kadir Has University, this team has members from 4 different schools including Sabancı University, Kocaeli University and Boğaziçi University. The very first goal of this team, made up in January 2022, was to participate in TEKNOFEST Hyperloop Development Competition and perform the first application of Hyperloop technology in Turkey with the capsule they produced. Hyperloop is a transportation vehicle which moves forward in a decompressed tunnel without contacting the rail and
is planned to access 1220 km speed. Hyperloop’s difference from Maglev, as it is now, is being in a tunnel and having a different levitation system. In Maglev train concept, we see magnet or electromagnet in the rail and vehicle. Yet, the rails are composed only of aluminium in Hyperloop, which diminishes the cost in infrastructure production. And it becomes more efficient in terms of energy consumption since the power is consumed only in the vehicle. In Hyperloop concept, levitation is a
process when the vehicle suspends itself in the air. Compressed air using, passive magnetic and active magnetic levitation are some different methods for levitation. While using compressed air, nozzle or air
bearing is utilized to impel the capsule upside. The magnetic field varying by the time causes currents on a conductive surface. Contrarily, alternate current creates a magnetic field around itself.
In magnetic levitation systems, eddy currents on the rail formed by magnet series are utilized. If this magnet series is formed as rotating disc and turned around its axis, which leads to induction, this is
called active levitation. And if it is formed as a linear series and inductions comes after acceleration, this is called passive levitation. During levitation, the methods for thrust system of the capsule must be without contacting the rail. These methods include linear induction motor, gas and turbine motors. Thrust from the wheel is impossible because the capsule does not contact the rail. Linear induction motor can be described as a part, which is created cutting a surface of a radial electrical motor. This motor gives a linear movement rather than a radial one. Considering Hyperloop concept, this system is convenient for a contactless movement in a flat tunnel. Hyperloop United used active magnetic levitation and linear induction motor in Design, analyse and production of magnet discs, linear induction motor, motor driver, mechanical sub-systems, battery management system were performed completely by and within the team. 2022 TEKNOFEST Hyperloop Development Competition was held in Gebze Campus by TÜBİTAK RUTE. Hyperloop United won the award of “The Most Successful Technical Design Report” in the competition held between August 15th-19th. The goal of the team was to develop a
system which enables people to go from İstanbul to Ankara and vice versa in shorter time than used by Turkish people, who live dominantly in İstanbul, while going to work. So, this intensity, which poses a great danger due to a possible earthquake, may be lessened and people may come to their workplaces from other cities apart from İstanbul, as it is considered.
