Swissloop: Innovative spirit and speed meet Swiss precision
Hyperloop technology as a vision
Swissloop is a student initiative dedicated to the development and research of Hyperloop technology. The goal: to contribute to the realisation of a CO2-neutral high-speed transport system that can transport people and goods at speeds of up to 1,200 km/h through vacuum tubes with virtually no friction or air resistance.
The basic idea is that a transport capsule – known as a “pod” – floats above the rails without contact using electromagnetic systems and is accelerated by linear drives. So it’s basically an electrified version of a pipe post system? “That would be a huge leap and as far away from reality as a horse and cart is from an electric vehicle. It's more like a high-speed magnetic levitation train built into a vacuum tube in the ground," explains André Bättig, Product Manager for electronic connectors at HARTING.
Swissloop was founded in autumn 2016 by students at ETH Zurich as an independent, non-profit association. The team is made up of students from various disciplines, including physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science. Every year, a new prototype is developed, manufactured and presented at international competitions. The team has achieved great success in 2024: in addition to third place in the "Complete System Award", they also secured the “Vacuum Award” and the prize for the “Most Scalable Design”.
Swissloop sees itself as a practice-oriented training platform for students and a driver of interdisciplinary knowledge exchange. The team members gain valuable experience in the fields of design, manufacturing, system integration and project management. The project relies on innovative drive and control technologies for the development of its Hyperloop prototypes, including linear induction motors, new braking systems and precise control technologies.
Industry-grade interfaces such as the HARTING ix Industrial® are crucial for robust and reliable data transmission in these complex systems. The Han® S from HARTING will be used in the 2024 pod as a modular connector for battery storage systems. It is suitable for vibration-prone environments and ensures a secure connection to the battery thanks to a modular connectors system. Thanks to the 360-degree rotatability of the housings, space constraints can be avoided – for example, when replacing individual cells. The possibility of quick assembly/disassembly optimises use in the modular battery box.
The partnership enables Swissloop to efficiently integrate sophisticated systems and integrate the pods at an internationally competitive level.
