“Hyperloop” is a proposed mass transportation method originally theorized by Elon Musk. The system involves a high-speed train, or “pod,” inside of a vacuum tube. In theory, a full-scale design could see pods traveling at speeds up to 700 MPH, making it ideal for inter-city transportation normally taking up to six hours by car. The Hyperloop can accomplish this while consuming very little energy. The pods encounter minimal air resistance, and further reduce friction via magnetic levitation. Additionally, the roof of an Hyperloop tube can naturally incorporate solar panels and could potentially serve as a self-sustaining system. 

Illini Hyperloop is a competition team building a pod for the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition. Elon Musk’s SpaceX has built a mile-long, six feet in diameter Hyperloop tube, which can support a near-vacuum (5% of Earth’s atmosphere). Student-led teams from around the world enter this competition to race their vehicle. This is the fourth Hyperloop Pod Competition, and the team hopes to successfully complete construction of their vehicle, ship it to California, and race it down the track. 

With many students driving or taking buses to and from campus, a Hyperloop could potentially provide a quick, relatively inexpensive, and energy-efficient mode of public transportation. It could additionally link Champaign to major cities such as Chicago and St. Louis. 

This proposal directly funds: 

1. Battery & Battery Management Equipment 

1. Avionics