MIT Hyperloop II Team Named 2020 Edison Awards Finalist
A team of MIT students has been named a finalist for the 2020 Edison Best New Product Award for Hyperloop II – the only Hyperloop contest entry levitated on a thin layer of air. Arrow Electronics provided engineering mentorship, components sourcing and logistics support as part of its team sponsorship.
Forty students collaborated to design and demonstrate the Hyperloop II, a high-speed, frictionless vehicle designed to carry people or freight using air levitation technology. Unlike other Hyperloop vehicles that employ magnetic levitation and require a dedicated track or vacuum tube with its own right-of-way, the MIT team’s model only needs a flat surface and doesn’t rely on expensive magnetic systems to power its levitation. This approach suggests air-lev could be a more affordable solution to high speed transport.
Hyperloop II was the only fully functioning air levitating prototype in the 2019 SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition, which showcases new transportation modes. The team placed fifth overall and captured the innovation prize – a noteworthy accomplishment given that the team had to rapidly rebuilt its vehicle after a fire destroyed the original prototype.
The Edison Awards, named after Thomas Alva Edison, recognize and honor the world’s best innovators and innovations. This year’s finalists were chosen by 3,000 innovation leaders from the fields of product development, design, engineering, science, marketing and education, including professional organizations representing a wide variety of industries and disciplines. The Edison Awards will announce gold, silver and bronze award winners the week of March 16, 2020.
About the Edison Awards
Established in 1987, the Edison Awards is a program conducted by Edison Universe, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering future innovators. For more information about the Edison Awards, please visit www.edisonawards.com.