Chennai : Indian Institute of Technology Madras students’ team Avishkar Hyperloop has received investment from global pure-play engineering services provider L&T Technology Services Limited (LTTS) to develop innovations in the Hyperloop landscape. LTTS is providing funding and technical support to Team Avishkar for their Hyperloop project. LTTS will enable Team Avishkar to further gain traction on its breakthrough disruptions in the emerging domain of Hyperloop-based transportation solutions for futuristic commuting experience.
The Hyperloop model proposed by Team Avishkar can achieve a top speed of over 1,200 kilometres per hour. It is completely autonomous, safe, and clean. The team is spearheading Hyperloop Tube research in India and has already patented a novel and cost-effective tube design. Hyperloop has been a buzzword in India for the last few years. Several companies have proposed routes including Mumbai-Pune and Chandigarh-Amritsar.
Commenting on this project, Prof V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, ‘The vacuum tube, when developed, will be the first of its kind in academia anywhere globally and would be on par with the test facility of the commercial entity, Virgin Hyperloop One in the USA As such, ours would be the only one of its kind available in public, which we intend to utilise to organize international Hyperloop competitions.’ Further, Prof Kamakoti said, ‘This facility of ours will allow us to seize the global leadership on Hyperloop technologies, so that we can set standards in this emerging new field.
Avishkar Hyperloop is a student team from the Centre for Innovation, IIT Madras, focusing on revolutionizing transportation with Hyperloop technologies. It is a 70-member strong interdisciplinary team, drawing members from 11 different academic disciplines. Highlighting the impact this support will have, Prof Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni and Corporate Relations), IIT Madras, said, ‘CSR funds invested in developing sustainable technology solutions is the only way to be ready for tomorrow’s challenges. We are excited that LTTS has chosen this route.’
Team Avishkar is aiming to build the world’s largest student-developed Hyperloop testing facility at IIT Madras and is hoping to complete the construction of this 500-metre long Hyperloop facility by this year. This facility will be constructed at Discovery Campus, the Satellite campus of IIT Madras located about 35 km from the main campus. This open-access and world-leading testbed will accelerate the development of novel Hyperloop technologies and make India a global centre for Hyperloop development.