18272 All about Hyperloop – whose project it is, how it works, what has been done

All about Hyperloop – whose project it is, how it works, what has been done



All about Hyperloop – whose project it is, how it works, what has been done

That’s how humanity is, that he was always concerned with the question – how faster to get from point a to point B. To do this, throughout the whole period of its existence, people built ships, invented the wheel and the internal combustion engine made cars and trains has launched a rocket into space and orbital stations. In our time, the spaceship – the fastest form of transport. But the problem is that his destiny is to fly into Earth orbit or to other planets. A man wants to get from one city to another, with a minimum of time.

But it seems that soon this problem will be solved and we get a new form of transport. I’m talking about the famous Hyperloop project. Experts have dubbed it the fifth mode of transportation after boats, trains, cars and planes. Hyperloop is a kind of vacuum overhead duct, inside which can move a passenger capsule at supersonic speed. Depending on the terrain, the speed of the capsule will range from 480 to 1,220 km/h.

  1. Whose project?
  2. How does the Hyperloop?
  3. Who is involved in the development of the Hyperloop project?
  4. What has been done on the Hyperloop project?
  5. Is it safe to travel on the Hyperloop?

Whose project?

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The idea of creating a Hyperloop proposed by Elon Musk. Who is this genius of modern times? American businessman, billionaire, invest in ambitious innovative projects, humanitarian and a philanthropist who has spent millions of dollars to charity, the engineer-inventor, a passionate lover of computer games, the father of five sons. Rumor has it that Musk is the prototype of the famous Tony stark the main character favorite movie “Iron man”. His ingenious ideas and inventions excite the minds of all mankind. Any news related to the activities of Elon musk is always one of genuine interest.

A little bit about Ilona Mask

Future genius was born 28 June 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. Very early learned to read and write. At 9 years he was presented with the first computer Commodore VIC-20, which he alone has mastered, moreover, began to write programs on it. At the age of twelve, invented his first computer game-shooter, which is then sold for $ 500. It was the first earned money. His capital amassed, participating in the creation of PayPal. The project was so successful that it was bought by famous auction site eBay.

But still more famous Musk as head of Tesla, who produces electric cars of premium class. Fantastic Tesla model X Tesla S and Tesla 3 you can meet on Ukrainian roads. Also Elon Musk is CEO of SpaceX, which is engaged in the manufacture and launch the famous rockets reusable Falcon 9. In one of his interviews Elon has admitted that since childhood he beckon the stars that he’d like to finish on Mars, establishing a colony-settlement. Just for this, and thought of the Falcon 9 rocket, which is already helping to deliver cargo to the space station ISS, but its main mission is the colonization of Mars. The mask was immediately dubbed the most famous visionary of our time.

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But back to the draft of the fifth transport on Earth. In 2012-2013, the inventor proposed the idea of the Hyperloop project, as the fastest way to deliver cargo and carry passengers. Project Elon musk was the alternative proposed by the US government project for the construction of high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. For the construction of such a railway was planned to allocate a whopping amount of 70-100 billion dollars. Musk immediately responded, saying that this project will give Americans one of the slowest in the world (among speed, of course, is about 320 km/h) Railways at too high a price per mile of travel. And then offered your. True, at first it was misty talking about the fifth mode of transportation that will change the way people think about method of travel. Elon argued that the idea of creating such a project came into his head when he was stuck in traffic on one of the streets of new York. In one of his interview with BusinessWeek the billionaire said that mankind will have a form of transport that will never get into a crash, and its speed exceeds the speed of the aircraft. Passengers will not need to adjust to the schedule, as capsule go when needed. Most importantly, what to eat, the capsule will be from solar energy. Skeptics, of course, we ridiculed the words of Elon musk, but as it turned out, they were wrong.

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How does the Hyperloop?

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Elon Musk did not long delay the conversations, and decided to go straight to the point. So in August 2013, he introduced the world to a detailed description of the idea of the Hyperloop project, 58 pages. Let’s deal that offered a brilliant inventor.

The first thing to understand is that Hyperloop will be a closed overhead thoroughfare in the form of two parallel tubes connected at the end points of the route. Inside are capsules with a length of 25-30 meters, which will move at speeds of 480-1200 km/h, depending on the landscape, the tracks are laid.

There are passenger and freight passagirskiy system options. In the passenger version, the diameter of the pipe is equal to 2.23 m, and the capsule itself will consist of 28 seats, located on 2 rows of seats. The second variant of the system more interesting, as the capsule will accommodate another three cars. The diameter of the pipe will naturally increase and will be equal to 3.3 m.

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According to the project developers, the capsule will be sent every 30 seconds and a safe distance when driving between them is 8 km away.

The principle of vacuum trains

Elon Musk has decided to take as a basis the principle of operation of the vacuum train, the idea of which, by the way, there is a very long time, but its realization was not possible due to the lack of appropriate technology at the time. And it was a great idea. If the vehicle does not need to overcome air resistance, it can move at supersonic speeds.

But then the inventor was faced with the problem of the high cost of such a project, as the creation of a complete vacuum of space is costly. And a solution was found. Decided to abandon the full vacuum of space, replacing it with the backing pump, when there is a thousandth of atmospheric pressure. To create a sufficiently low pump power and a conventional steel pipe with a thickness of 20-25 mm.

People in the know will immediately say that the presence of even small quantities of air, it will interfere with the free movement of the capsules. This problem was solved by redirecting air mass at the bottom of the trains through the nozzle into their nose, thus creating a cushion of air. Even managed to save the need for expensive magnetic cushion.

The capsule itself is driven by an electric motor. To fuel the motor has 15-foot rail, set that plan on the floor of the pipe every 110 km.

If you remember, to eat the capsule will be from solar energy. So the first route will be in an area where a lot of sun and quite hot, so the idea 100% energy needs will satisfy solar panels and wind turbines located on the surface of the pipeline. Engineers, for example, proposed to build a highway on the border of Mexico and the United States.

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Cost-effective project?

The developers claim that solar panels and wind turbines will generate up to 57 MW of electricity, and the tube itself will require no more than 21 MW. Most interesting is that when braking the capsule, the kinetic energy will turn into electric. The developers even plan to sell it and earn more than $ 20 million a year. Solid profits with minimum costs. Brilliant idea, which is not only useful from a technical point of view, but also economically advantageous. Hence the relatively low ticket price for the Hyperloop, which will amount to only $ 20 in one end of the trip. The project, which is estimated at 7.5 billion dollars, will pay for itself in 20 years.

Elon Musk has noted that his brainchild, Hyperloop – a cross between a supersonic aircraft Concorde, a railgun (original electrosurgical) and a table for playing aerohockey.

The project did not seem to have such a fantastic and, when you consider the success of the electric Tesla, which can provide motors capsule, SolarCity has a huge experience in designing solar panels, and construction of heavy-duty rockets, the Falcon 9 will help to create a highly reliable transport.

It is worth noting that the idea of a vacuum train on air cushions often sounded back in the 50-70’s of the twentieth century. But the ideas remained.

Who is involved in the development of the Hyperloop project?

From the beginning, Elon Musk has noted that his project would be perfect for the big cities, which are located from each other at a distance of not more than 1500 km And for larger distances there is still aviation. Which is logical and correct, as with the technical side during the construction of the pipeline, and economic.

Another presentation of the project, the businessman said that he does not want to play the main role in the project as the main activity for him still remain Tesla and SpaceX. But he was sure that there will be willing to bring his ideas to life. And he was right.

Just a month after the presentation of the Hyperloop project specialists of the company Ansys, which spetsializiruyutsya on computer modeling, decided to test the technology. After all the necessary measurements and modeling all kinds of situations, they came to the conclusion that the project truly realistic. Their results gave rise to further implementation of the project.

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Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT)

Soon set up a special company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) for the project of the transport system. It was headed by the closest companions of mask of the President of SpaceX, Gwynne Shotwell and founder of the platform to help promising startups, JumpStartFund, Dirk Ahlborn. The work started in full swing.

The most remarkable thing is that all employees work for free, on a volunteer basis, hoping to get their share of the profits from the project in the future. Most of them work in the world famous companies, such as Cisco, Boeing, Amazon, are the students and faculty of Harvard University and the School of architecture and design at the University of California and other well-known companies and higher education institutions. You say, how can they find time to do everything? The whole project is divided into smaller parts, each group performs some of the work in his spare time, and then discusses everything in a specially developed online services.

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Hyperloop One

However, in addition to Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) the development of the project of the transport system do and other companies. Among them stands out the company Hyperloop Technologies, which was founded by shervin Pishevar. Later the company was renamed Hyperloop One. It Pishevar was the first investor in the taxi service Uber, and founder of the venture capital Fund Sherpa Ventures. Known shervin Pishevar in the United States and as a major sponsor of the Democratic party.

In fact, it is thanks to the connections of Sherwin in the White house, the project received state support in the United States. In particular, in 2013, President Barack Obama asked the Bureau for science and technology policy of the US administration to examine in more detail the idea of the Hyperloop. Then work on the project moved to a new level.

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The company Hyperloop Technologies currently employs approximately 30 staff, but among them there are the real stars of Silicon valley. Like Joe Lonsdale (founder of the giant processing large amounts of data Palantir), Jim Money (he was the head of the presidential campaign of Obama), David Sachs (one of the founders of PayPal), Peter GD (the founder of Fund of support of innovations XPrize Foundation), Brogan Bambergen (one of the leading engineers of SpaceX). They are all close friends and acquaintances Elon musk. The head of the company Rob Lloyd, former CEO of Cisco. The company are in full swing work on the development of parts of trains, that is, capsules as well as elements of the pipeline. By the way, the capsules themselves in the company Hyperloop Technologies is referred to as HyperPod.

What has been done on the Hyperloop project?

From the first day of presentation of the project Hyperloop, some experts were skeptical about the idea of Elon musk to build the transportation system of the future. Started appearing in interviews and articles that predicted the failure of the undertaking of a billionaire.

But the company Hyperloop One did not give up and continued to work hard. And today we can say that the project has moved forward. As they say, step is the hardest.

So in may 2016 on the site of the company appears the video, which clearly tells and shows the working principle of the Hyperloop and its capabilities. The principle is very simple: passengers and goods will be delivered in capsules by vacuum tube. The first tests showed that the device can reach speeds of 160 km/h, but very soon will be able to catch up on speed planes and missiles.

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Plant for production of pipes

In June of the same year, the company Hyperloop One opened in Nevada its first factory, called Hyperloop One Metalworks. It covers an area of approximately 10,000 square meters. The main task of the plant manufacture of parts for test cut Hyperloop, which, incidentally, will also be built in the Nevada.

In November 2016, the company said that engineers began to build the first part of the pipeline Hyperloop. Was made a pipe that will carry the capsule with passengers.

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It is from these pipes will consist of all tubing of the Hyperloop project, which was to be built near Las Vegas. Later began to appear pictures of the first 500 meters of the future highway in the Nevada desert. They went around the first pages of all magazines in the world. Also reported later that a similar landfill will open in France.

Capsule for passengers

Of course all waited for news of building themselves capsules for passengers. And in March 2017, the company Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) said that started to build the first full-size capsule, which is intended for Hyperloop transport system. The capsule has a length of 30 meters, diameter of 2.7 meters and weight of 20 tons.

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It will seat from 28 to 40 passengers and reach a speed of 1223 km/h. Created its engineers of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), together with the company Carbures S. A., which specializiruetsya in the production of fuselages and has long established itself in the aerospace industry. The developers claim that in 2018 will represent the first completely ready to use transport module, which you can bring to mind, to show investors and customers.

Hyperloop Pod Competition

Special attention deserves the competition Hyperloop Pod Competition. In the beginning of 2015, Musk said that the forces of owned space company SpaceX plans to build Hyperloop test area 8 km long in Texas. And in June, SpaceX announced a competition to design a passenger capsule for the new vehicle. In January of 2017 passed the first stage races of the capsules, at which the application is filed by 27 teams, but were lucky only three of them. And at the end of August 2017 passed and the second stage of the competition. Tunnel with a length of 1.25 kilometers built in Hawthorne, California, near the headquarters of SpaceX. Again, of the 25 teams participating in the race took just three of them. The winner of the second stage of the Hyperloop Pod Competition was the team of WARR from the technical University of Munich showed the best result – capsule WARR weighing about 80 kg was able in the backing pump inside the tunnel can reach speeds of 324 km/h (201 mph).

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Drilling of the tunnel

A lot of fuss about a message that Elon Musk has decided to engage in the drilling of tunnels, not to stand in traffic jams. The drill machine was built in the district of Columbia, and it has drilled a tunnel length of 3.5 km and a diameter of 7 metres. Put a picture of a drill rig, Musk jokingly signed it with the word “Minecraft”.

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Selected the best regions for routing

The message that the route the Hyperloop will be built in different cities of the world, excite all. The company recently decided to bring some clarity in this matter. Candidates were very much so the developers have announced a Global Challenge, which allowed any city and country apply to the application for the possible construction of a new transport line. Hyperloop in the company of One attentive to the consideration of applications to choose from in all regions the most promising. Even in the summer there were reports that in Europe and the United States will be laid the first pipe line. But the company decided to submit the final list of the most likely candidates. In General, in the United States will run four routes.

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The longest track will pass through Dallas, Houston and Laredo. Its length is 1030 km and will cover about 18 million population of the country. The remaining three route, though smaller, but will be held in the most remote places.

Unexpectedly to most experts two routes received India. One will connect the two major Indian cities of Chennai and Mumbai, and the second will be held from Bangalore to Chennai. It is worth noting that in these areas of India very high population density, which is what the developers expect.

The same route will receive Canada and Mexico, but the most unexpected decision was announced regarding the UK. She will get as much as two routes.

The developers will look at all options, weigh all arguments and only then will start negotiations and construction on the chosen route.

Is it safe to travel on the Hyperloop?

This question of the first day was disturbed as the press and experts, but especially interested in future passengers. The developers hurried to reassure everyone that aerofoam have nothing to fear, as the acceleration of the vehicle feel can be compared to the run of the aircraft before takeoff. Inside will be superauto and comfortable, no turbulence. The pipeline will fall from heaven, and will not leave the rails, so the project has an unprecedented level of security.

Consider the possibility of emergency braking in case of need. And to prevent the effects of earthquakes (not that they regularly visit that area, but you never know) of the proposed earthquake-proof technology to create of pipeline supports.

In the event of power loss, the also have a backup plan in the form of 1.5 tons of batteries, charge which is enough for 45 minutes of movement. Enough in order to reach the end point of the trip.

We live in an amazing time. Our eyes are fantastic ideas come true. Our generation is lucky to have such brilliant people like Elon Musk. Who knows, maybe in 2022, the developers assure Hyperloop, the lucky ones will be able to make the first trip in a capsule the new mode of transport.

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