Mission:

• Hypershot objective for SpaceX competition is to study the feasibility of a 1:2 scale pod;

• Half-scale pod will be designed based on both theoretical models and outcomes of experimental tests on the 1:24 scale model.

Overall solution:

• 54ft long with 28 half-scaled passengers

• Steady state velocity 240mph/386kmh and track static pressure equal to 0.64kPa so that the real and scale model have the same Reynolds number

• Compressor nozzle opening has a frontal area of 643.44 in2 with a maximum height of 16.30in and a maximum width of 52.33in

Figure 1: Overall pod design

Design objective:

Pod nominal behavior contains the following sub-systems:

• Propulsion system: thrust force generated from compressed air exiting a nozzle;

• Levitation system: air bearings designed based on the momentum curtain effect typical of overcraft;

• Stability system: lateral air bearings acting on the I-beam of the track.

Figure 2: Solution for pod stability

The design problem is very complex because involves many degrees of freedom (DoFs) and few constraints. In the figure below, the pod thermodynamics diagram has been identified and some of the DoFs have been reported in red, while in black are specifications/requirements which must be fulfilled.

The main objective of Hypershot is to identify mathematical model for the different system functionalities and perform a multi-disciplinary optimization through optimization software as Openmdao.

Figure 3: Thermodynamics diagram of the pod

We are a student group acting independently of the University of California. We take full responsibility for our organization and this web site.