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Pod “Bertrand Piccard”

Embark on a transformative journey with Swissloop’s “Bertrand Piccard” prototype. This visionary pod combines cutting-edge technologies and timeless design to redefine the future of transportation. Bertrand Piccard features a lightweight carbon monocoque chassis for optimal strength and agility. Its vacuum-compatible cooling system, utilizing phase change materials, ensures peak performance even in vacuum environments. Powered by a next-generation linear switched reluctance motor, the pod achieves remarkable speeds on Swissloop’s Hyperloop track. The contactless guidance modules enable smooth navigation, minimizing energy loss and providing a frictionless ride. With a cutting-edge Li-Po battery pack providing up to 250 A at 800 V, Bertrand Piccard offers impressive acceleration and performance.

What sets it apart is its ability to defy gravity, remaining airborne throughout the journey, maximizing speed, safety, and sustainability. Swissloop’s Bertrand Piccard prototype represents a leap forward in transportation. With its timeless design, advanced propulsion, and frictionless guidance, it paves the way for a new era of travel. Experience the enduring innovation of the Bertrand Piccard and reimagine the future of transportation.

A cost-effective track designed specifically for the new motor topology, reducing expenses without compromising performance. The teeth in the middle segment of the track are made from a ferromagnetic material, enhancing motor performance and efficiency.
The linear switched reluctance motor supports a hybrid propulsion system in combination with track-sided boosters for acceleration. The reluctance motor is a cost-effective cruising motor built for energy-efficient long-distance operation at high speeds. Weighting only 51 kg, the optimized design offers acceleration rates up to 1.6g.
For the lateral levitation systems a Hybrid Electromagnetic Suspension (HEMS) was developed, meanwhile the vertical guidance uses a simpler electromagnetic suspension (EMS) design.
Multiple sensors installed throughout the pod to measure distances, pressures, currents, voltages, and temperatures of various components, enabling comprehensive data collection. The vehicle control, battery management, levitation control, and propulsion control subsystems process the collected sensor data to manage and regulate different aspects of the pod’s operation.
The pod’s structure, made from carbon fiber reinforced polymer with an aluminum honeycomb core, provides mounting points for subsystems and houses all electronics. It also features an integrated copper mesh to reduce electromagnetic interference and displays partner logos.
The levitation power electronics provides power to the levitation and guidance systems. It utilizes a self-developed SiC-MOSFET inverter capable of handling currents up to 20 A at 800 V. Four two-phase modules split into two shielded boxes control the Hybrid Electromagnetic Suspension (HEMS) and Electromagnetic Suspension (EMS) modules.
In total, 24 lithium polymer (LiPo) battery modules placed in two boxes deliver currents up to 250 A with a voltage of 800 V. A self-developed Battery Management System (BMS) continuously monitors voltage, temperature, and isolation between high and low voltage potentials.
The friction based pneumatic brake utilizes disc springs to ensure safe deceleration in all circumstances. Operating at 9 bar, the system provides a nominal deceleration of 2.1g, with a worst-case spring-only deceleration of 0.6g.
The motor power electronics supplies power to the linear switched reluctance motor (LSRM) using a self-developed SiC-MOSFET inverter capable of handling currents up to 150 A at 800 V. Three modules split into two shielded boxes control the six phases of the LSRM.
The carbon fiber reinforced polymer lid provides additional protection, improves the aerodynamic behavior of the pod and provides a platform to present our largest partners. It was manufactured with the best method for lightweight structures and cured in an autoclave at temperatures of 130 °C.
In total, 2.1 mF DC-Link capacitor are shared between all power subsystems to reduce the current ripple on the batteries and stabilize the voltage supply.
The control electronics for all electromagnetic systems is handled by two very similar control boards. For both systems, the current controller runs on an FPGA, while the propulsion and levitation/guidance controllers operate on an STM microcontroller. Additionally, the vehicle control unit is responsible to coordinate the activities of other subsystems and establishing an interface to the outside world.
The vacuum compatible cooling system is built around a centralized module, which uses phase change materials (PCMs) to store heat. A pump and water coolant loop with soft tubing are used to transfer the heat from the MOSFETs to the centralized module. With this centralized approach, the hot vacuum cooling module can quickly be exchanged with a new element.

“Bertrand Piccard” is the remarkable result of the combined efforts of a team comprising around 38 talented students hailing from diverse backgrounds and various universities across Switzerland. Throughout an intense ten-month season, starting in September, a core group of sixteen exceptional electrical and mechanical engineers dedicated themselves to the design, manufacturing, assembly, and testing of this intricate prototype. The whole prototype is a complex system with numerous parts, all interacting with one another.

Electrical

The linear switched reluctance motor (LSRM) accelerates the vehicle by switching a pulsed direct current through the coils of the motor. When this happens at the right position on the track, the pod is always attracted to the teeth further forward, resulting in continuous forward motion. The motor consists of 24 coils with a laminated core and is mounted on the underside of the monocoque to achieve a low center of gravity. The inverter is the link between the batteries and the LSRM and regulates the current through the motor. 

The electrical systems are largely divided into five high-voltage and one low-voltage box. The high-voltage boxes contain in total three power modules for the propulsion system and four power modules for the levitation and guidance system. Each propulsion inverter module controls two phases of the LSRM consisting of four serial coils each with currents up to 150 A leading to accelerations of up to 1.6g. Meanwhile, each guidance and levitation power module controls one electromagnetic suspension (EMS) for lateral stabilization and one hybrid electromagnetic suspension (HEMS) for vertical levitation. These coils are excited in the range of -20 A to 20 A and keep the vehicle within 3-9 mm and 5.5-16 mm distance to the track for the EMS respectively HEMS. All current controllers utilize a tolerance-band based architecture running on the FPGA, whereas the position and speed controller are running on STM32H7 microcontrollers.

The low-voltage box contains the vehicle, levitation inverter and propulsion inverter controls as well as the low-voltage power supply and is located in the middle of the pod. The batteries are integrated into one battery box in front of the low-voltage box. The entire battery system consists of up to 24 lithium-polymer battery packs and has a maximal voltage of 800 V. These box contains additional electronics, including the battery management system (BMS), which is responsible for monitoring each individual battery cell, and an isolation monitoring device (IMD) to ensure proper isolation of the different potentials. 

Further, the vehicle controller is responsible for the digital integration of the pod. This includes collecting data from the other systems and determining the state of the overall vehicle via the various -sensors connected to one of the CAN-FD buses. The vehicle control system then takes action based on this collected data. It also establishes a wireless connection to the control software, from where manual control commands can be sent.

Mechanical

The pod-structure is completely reimagined as a carbon fiber monocoque. This innovative design ensures that all forces are guided through the vacuum-compatible carbon fiber sandwich structure as well as the aluminum skeleton beneath it. Weighing only 21 kg, the monocoque chassis with its lid offers exceptional aerodynamically performance and futuristic look. Notably, the pod features an advanced levitation and guidance system that provides both lateral and vertical stability. Enhancing safety measures, a new generation suspension system has been integrated to safeguard against levitation system failures and mitigate track misalignments. The system incorporates four wheels to restrict vertical movement of the pod, while numerous vertical and lateral guidance wheels act as initial contact points in all directions.

Safety is a paramount concern, and the pod’s brakes have been engineered to ensure reliable stopping power in all scenarios, capable of deceleration rates up to 2.1g. A pneumatic actuated braking mechanism generates the necessary braking force, and a redundant design guarantees the availability of ample braking force even in unforeseen circumstances. Disc springs, constantly compressed and capable of releasing without power or air supply, provide additional redundancy. Innovative energy recuperation capabilities are also a highlight of this prototype. The pod’s hardware includes a motor capable of regenerating energy, complementing the physical braking system. Additionally, next to the physical braking system, the electronics of the pod are capable of recuperating energy through its motor.

To address cooling requirements for the electrical components, a cutting-edge vacuum-compatible cooling unit has been implemented. This unit employs a self-designed water loop to efficiently transfer heat from the inverter and levitation units to a central phase change thermal storage. This revolutionary metal 3D-printed heat-battery employs tuned paraffin for storing substantial amounts of thermal energy. When the pod comes to a halt, the heat-battery can be easily exchanged manually, restoring optimal cooling performance.

More information is provided in the Annual Report 2023!
Annual Report 2023

245.5

Weight

1.6

Acceleration

80

Top Speed

5

Awards @ EHW

Bertrand Piccard

Bertrand Piccard is a Swiss psychiatrist, adventurer, and explorer known for his remarkable achievements in aviation and environmental advocacy. He is the co-pilot and co-founder of Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered aircraft to complete a circumnavigation of the globe. His dedication to sustainable technologies and his pioneering spirit make Bertrand Piccard the perfect choice to be the namesake of our new pod.

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