Design Leads, Officers, and advisor Dr. Tom Bensky after the final SpaceX interview

Our Team

Cal Poly Hyperloop has 80 active members working on pod design, manufacturing, marketing, and more. No applications are required and all majors are welcome to join our team, additionally our team is entirely composed of undergraduate students!

Design Leads

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Chassis

Lead: Beau Bikakis
4th-year Mechanical Engineering

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"The chassis is what holds the pod together, giving it structure and form. It is designed using lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber in order to minimize weight and maximize speed."

Sub Lead: Jason Foster
2nd-year Aerospace Engineering

"The aero-shell is the face of our pod, which must be not only structurally sound but also aesthetically pleasing. We are using advance carbon fiber manufacturing processes to ensure the best competition ready shell."

Transportation

"The transportation system oversees how the pod will navigate down the tube and ensures the pod is stable with minimal vibration. This year, a magnetic levitation system will support the pod's weight. Shock absorbers will reduce vibration and simultaneously center the pod on the I-beam."

Matthew Frost
2nd-year Mechanical Engineering

Braking

​Connor Bush
3rd-year Mechanical Engineering

"Braking is responsible for safely and efficiently decelerating the pod; to prevent collisions, halt the pod in an emergency situation, and restricting the pod from exceeding dangerous speeds. We will work to stop the movement of the pod in minimal time to allow greater speeds given the limited length of the Hyperloop tunnel. It is important for us to collaborate with all other subassemblies to determine the ideal weight, volume, power requirements, and method of braking system."

Power Delivery

​"The Power Delivery team designs and builds battery packs for any part of the pod requiring power. This includes motors, the control system, sensors, and magnetic levitation. The Power Delivery team selects batteries best suited for each pack, connects them together, and designs the layout of fuses and other peripheral components."

Sophia Stockburger
4th-year Electrical Engineering

Controls

Aaron Van Rossum
3rd-year Electrical Engineering

​“The Controls System represents the logic of the pod. We encompass all decision making processes, optimizing speed while maintaining an emphasis on the pod’s safety.”

Propulsion

"​The propulsion system is concerned with all aspects related to the acceleration of the pod. Utilizing efficient power transfer methods, we push the pod's limits while making sure our system can withstand the extreme heat, speed, and vibration."

Syed Huzefa Rauf
3rd-year Aerospace Engineering

R&D

Nolan Elauria
4th-year Physics Major

​“The Research & Development team tests and researches new technology to integrate into the pod. We decide whether something will be feasible to use on the pod, and test it to figure out how it will work with the other subsystems.”

Manufacturing

"​Manufacturing is in charge of fabricating parts for the pod using provided drawings from different subsystems, along with reviewing the drawings. Fabricating parts is a team effort as we work closely with all subsystems to review part drawings and train members on machine etiquette to make in-tolerance parts, so anyone in any subsystem can participate in part fabrication during manufacturing season."

Julia Rios
2nd-year Mechanical Engineering

Analysis

Austin Gasbarra
1st-year Mechanical Graduate

​“Verifies designs and creating tools to aid other teams in designing their systems.”

Instrumentation

"​Instrumentation deals with anything between the batteries and the software. We specifically work on sensors, component enclosures, speed controllers, and wiring of the pod. We work closely with both power delivery and controls to ensure the electrical functionality of the pod. "

Jeremy Sim
3rd-year Electrical Engineering

Marketing & Fundraising

Imad Rashed
2nd-year Business Major

​“The marketing team is responsible for the team's presence on social media and fundraising. We contact sponsors and partner with different organizations to fund the construction of the pod and other expenses the club incurs. We work closely to make sure the club is sufficiently funded and all our financial needs are met.”

Officers

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Kara Hewson
President
4th-year Mechanical Engineering

Josh Hoogerwerf
Vice President
4th-year Aerospace Engineering

Brad Albright
Head Of Operations​
4th-year Mechanical Engineering

Allie Shank
Secretary
4th-year Mechanical Engineering

Kayla Collins
Treasurer
4th-year Mechanical Engineering