Bertrand Piccard

Vacuum Transport Prototype, 2022/23

Bertrand Piccard on the test track in front of a crowd

In 2022/23, I had the privilege of leading a team of 11 mechanical and electrical engineers during the development and testing of Swissloop’s newest prototype.

In July 2023, Bertrand Piccard was awarded Best Overall System, Best Thermal Management, Best Propulsion, Best Electrical Systems, and Best Sense and Controls at the European Hyperloop Week in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Nose of Bertrand Piccard with the crowd behind Open pod seen from behind on the long track

Named after famed swiss explorer and pioneer Bertrand Piccard, the prototype was designed and manufactured over a period of 9 months to compete at the European Hyperloop Week. The goal: demonstrate key technologies needed to make high-speed vacuum rail transport a reality. It features a powerful contactless linear motor (Double-Sided Linear Switched Reluctance Motor: DS-LSRM) with unparalleled potential for high efficiency and low cost of infrastructure.

Thanks to its levitation system, Bertrand Piccard moves without touching any rails. By eliminating friction and vibrations, this allows for higher speeds to be achieved. Fully self-developed power electronics (800V / 250A) based around SiC MOSFETs and controls using FPGAs allow for customized current control in the motor and levitation systems. The on-board systems are supplied by LiPo batteries with incredible power density (26 kW/kg).

Bertrand Piccard passing at speed Nose of Bertrand Piccard head-on on the track

Bertrand Piccard features over 400 sensors used for monitoring and controls. Uniquely, a phase change cooling system (VCM v1) allows for thermal management in vacuum environments. The vehicle is stopped with a pneumatic braking system. Housing all components is an aerodynamically optimized monocoque chassis, made with a carbon fibre / aramide core sandwich construction.