OverviewIn Fall 2017, I began working on Paradigm Hyperloop, a international team of students from Northeastern University and Memorial University of Newfoundland & Labrador.
Prior to my joining, this team won second place at Elon Musk's Hyperloop Pod Competition II, and was the only North American finalist. We are now developing an entirely new pod for entry in next year's competition. My first area of responsibility for this team was to redesign the pod's suspension system, with an emphasis on DFM and assembly simplification. |
Design
The Paradigm Hyperloop Pod relies on air skate levitation. Air is forced through the red nylon airbags, drastically reducing friction between the pod and the track. When no air is supplied, the pod rests on its wheels.
From project site: "Air bearings are the core technology we have developed for Competition II. While air bearings are already utilized in low speed industrial applications, they've never been explored in high-speed contexts. Low-friction levitation is critical to the Hyperloop concept and our air bearings reduce the force necessary to propel our pod by 80%."
The pod rides on four of these air skate assemblies, each with its own suspension. The suspension comprises a simple parallel four bar linkage, with a damped spring at its center.
From project site: "Air bearings are the core technology we have developed for Competition II. While air bearings are already utilized in low speed industrial applications, they've never been explored in high-speed contexts. Low-friction levitation is critical to the Hyperloop concept and our air bearings reduce the force necessary to propel our pod by 80%."
The pod rides on four of these air skate assemblies, each with its own suspension. The suspension comprises a simple parallel four bar linkage, with a damped spring at its center.