Traco Power DC-DC Converters in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod – Powered by SEA Components

The SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition is an event organized by SpaceX that challenges university student teams to create the fastest Hyperloop pod in a 1,200-meter vacuum tube. The idea behind this challenge is to make progress on Elon Musk's vision of the Hyperloop as a green alternative to short-distance air travel.

This was the fourth competition, and the winning team from the past few years, the WARR Hyperloop Team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), was participating again. The competition is all about striking the right balance between robust engineering and lightweight design. Minimum weight is essential for achieving maximum acceleration, but it must be done without sacrificing the stability of the pod.

The TUM Hyperloop Team turned to DC-DC converters from Traco Power, a decision motivated by their positive past experiences and strong technical cooperation with the specialists at Traco Power. Traco Power components are highly appreciated for compact size, lightweight design, and reliability, which makes them perfectly suited for the Hyperloop pod.

Using Traco Power's integrated DC-DC converter modules, the TSRN 2450 1SM and the TSRN 24120 1SM, the team avoided the complexity of designing discrete solutions. This choice achieved significant savings in time for component selection, circuit design, and PCB routing. In addition, the SMD design of the converters helped to minimize both weight and space—two key factors in achieving competitive performance.

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