Hyperloop UPV presents Auran, their first levitating vehicle

Hyperloop UPV, a Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) student’s team working together since 2016 with the mission of designing a working prototype of Hyperloop to make the transport of the future a reality, has presented this morning its new and disruptive prototype Auran. With this new prototype they will compete in a new edition of the European Hyperloop Week (EHW), to be held next July.

Auran is the first vehicle in the team's and EHW's history to be able to levitate effectively. " The way for the vehicle to levitate this year is completely different and revolutionary from what we have done so far. We have achieved this by using a highly efficient technology that attracts Auran in a controlled way to the ceiling and walls by means of magnets, instead of repelling itself from the ground. It is an innovative levitation system, which eliminates one of the most frequent problems in this type of systems, such as the high electricity consumption," explained the team's technical director, Javier Luján González.

By eliminating friction with the surface, Auran is lighter and faster than previous team’s prototypes. In addition, the vehicle has a linear induction motor, which makes it possible to accelerate and brake with the motor itself without touching the rail. Auran is, by far, the safest prototype in the history of Hyperloop UPV.

Project Scalability

According to the team itself, the most disruptive part of this year's project is its scalability.From their workshops, they have created an innovative interior design for Auran as well as a key infrastructure for the development of this technology: a 20-metre long, 10-tonne tube, through which Auran will circulate at the EHW.

"The most remarkable of the cabin is its design which provides privacy and intimacy for the passenger. Meanwhile, as far as the tube is concerned, although it is adapted to Auran, it can be used with the new prototypes that the team will be developing in the coming years", says José Luis Lores Sánchez, technical director of the mechanical area of Hyperloop UPV.

Objective: To win in the European Hyperloop Week

The UPV team will compete with Auran in the European Hyperloop Week, to be held from 18 to 24 July at Delft University (Netherlands). Hyperloop UPV will be one of the two Spanish teams taking part in this competition which a clear objective: to win. "Hyperloop UPV is a competitive team, and we are going to the Netherlands to outstand. We believe we have a proposal that positions us as a leading team. It is an ambitious project with many challenges in parallel: coordinating an engine with levitation, with new infrastructure and including, for the first time, interior design… and we think that we bring the winning proposal ", said María Cuesta, captain of the Hyperloop UPV.

Hyperloop stations in Valencia

In their project, the UPV student’s team also includes a detailed study for a future Hyperloop station in Valencia. "Our cities are becoming increasingly congested. Our team is committed to recovering those spaces that have become obsolete in our city, with a Hyperloop Station. I hope that the next trip can be made in Hyperloop, I'm sure of it", said María Cuesta.

Spontaneous Generation programme benchmark

Hyperloop UPV is part of the Spontaneous Generation programme of the Universitat Politècnica de València, a unique initiative in Spanish universities. "It is a fundamental pillar in the training of our students, which opens up a huge range of opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship. Through this programme, and Hyperloop UPV is a clear example, we are providing conceptual and technical innovations that can result in prototypes that reach the industry and become a reality," said the Rector of the UPV, José E. Capilla, during the presentation of Auran.

In this line, Sandra Moya, head of marketing at Hyperloop UPV, said that Spontaneous Generation allows them to train in transversal skills that are very difficult to achieve in the classroom. "In addition, belonging to a research team like Hyperloop UPV improves the training experience to be able to build our best professional life project for the future" added Sandra Moya.

Currently, 71 teams and more than 2,000 people are part of the Spontaneous Generation programme at the Universitat Politècnica de València.