Building a magnetically levitating and driving Mini Hyperloop from Scratch

Описание: Homemade/ DIY/ Build of a magnetically levitating (“frictionless“) and driving small scale train – Mini Hyperloop. From the mechanics to electronics and control, everything was created from scratch.

The Hyperloop concept was published (white paper) in 2013 as a high speed transportation system by Elon musk. This concept is based on a train-like passenger capsule, which is operated in a (medium) vaccum tube (reduction of aerodynamic drag) and is guided as frictionless as possible to reach these high speeds.
The frictionless guidance can be achieved for example by a magnetic levitation system. The capsule is driven contactless by a magnetic linear motor, for example (many different concepts…).

The system presented in this video represents a small version of the Hyperloop. The Mini Hyperloop is able to levitate and drive.
The levitation is realized via four custom electromagnets, whose attraction to the rails is controlled so that the vehicle hangs below them at a constant distance. The propulsion is realized by a custom three-phase linear motor in the track of the tube and a magnet array below the vehicle. The tube is used in this model mostly for illustration (no vacuum).
For the control of the system there is a base station. This has a touch screen for input and output, a BLE connection to the pod for condition monitoring, and the control electronics for the linear motor.

All mechanics, electronics (for the base station: modules are used) and software were designed, developed and manufactured by myself.


Since the publication of this vision, many companies and institutions have been working on testing its feasibility and implementation. SpaceX itself organizes an annual student competition to promote the development of the technology.
Additional information on Hyperloop:
Tesla/SpaceX paper: https://www.tesla.com/sites/default/f...
SpaceX Pod competition:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperlo...
https://tumhyperloop.de/hyperloop-pro...