IIT Madras to host Asia's first global Hyperloop competition
Chennai, January 27
In a bid to help revolutionise transportation across the world, including in India, IIT Madras on Monday said it will host Asia's first Global Hyperloop Competition (GHC) 2025 from February 21-25.
The competition will take place at IIT Madras' state-of-the-art Hyperloop test facility – a 450-metre test track at Thaiyur on the southern suburb of Chennai.
The facility has been developed in collaboration with Indian Railways, ArcelorMittal, L&T, and Hindalco, it said in a statement.
The competition is being organised by IIT Madras, IITM Pravartak and SAEIndia, with support from the Ministry of Railways.
“The GHC is a testament to what students can achieve when given the right opportunities and platforms,” said professor Satya Chakravarthy, Faculty Advisor, Hyperloop IIT Madras.
Hyperloop is often referred to as the "fifth mode of transportation." It is a high-speed train that travels inside a near-vacuum tube, allowing capsules to reach speeds exceeding 1,000 km per hour due to significantly reduced air resistance.
The concept was first introduced by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk in 2013 through his whitepaper titled 'Hyperloop Alpha'.
The contest
The competition will feature around 400 participants competing in three major categories. The 'Pod Demonstration' will allow teams to test their Hyperloop pod prototypes on the advanced track.
The 'Hyperloop InnoQuest' will challenge participants to solve real-world issues in Hyperloop implementation. The DesignX category will provide a platform for creative minds to present cutting-edge concepts and ideas for the future of Hyperloop technology. IANS