The 2022 Hyperloop Manchester team attended their first in person competition in July, European Hyperloop Week. The competition was hosted by Delft University of Technology, in the Netherlands. The week consisted of teams from around the globe presenting different subsystems, networking opportunities, and also attending the testing of various pods.
Within the first few days of the event, the team presented their mechanical, traction, electrical and also guiding subsystems. These were presented to the panel of this year’s hyperloop week, and the other teams involved.
The second half of the week took the Hyperloop Manchester team to the track at Hilversum. Here, the team had the opportunity to watch the testing the other teams’ pods. This presented the team with the opportunity to network with technicians on the other teams about construction of the prototype pods and some of the systems they used. The team also got to see some of the pods in action that were tested on the I beam.
As the event drew to a close on the Sunday, the team took to their stall in the marketplace in Delft. The public interacted with the team to learn more about the society and the design of Hyperman 1. The final closing ceremony also took place on the Sunday. This was a final opportunity to celebrate all the teams involved in the competition.
The Outcome
The Hyperloop Manchester team received plenty of feedback from the jury on a one-to-one basis. This included positive words on their methodologies including:
- The “test before full scale build” philosophy
- The in-house design comparison code developed to analyse the benefits of various geometries and parameters that drive various sub teams design
- The suspension system
It was recommended to the team to attempt an innovation that is functional for future competitions, once their first prototype is up and running. Moreover, the team were asked to work on bettering their scalability for some sub-systems. The team also received positive technical direction feedback. This feedback was based on their circumstances and facilities. This will be considered by the new committee to factor in the preparation for the future.
Goudsmit UK supports the teams “Test before full scale build” philosophy by supplying permanent magnets of different sizes. Therefore, enabling the team to perform a wide testing matrix for multiple sub systems ranging from levitation to braking.
The team’s immediate goal is to work towards creating a good work culture, building an A-team and a society around the team before working on technical progress. This is well under way with a recent latest recruitment drive and formation of a new committee.
“The flexibility in operation is all thanks to our long-term partners and sponsors for which we would like to thank them wholeheartedly.”
–Rutvik Perepa, President of Hyperloop Manchester
For more information on our work with the Hyperloop Manchester team, read the case study here.
