When he isn’t making electric cars or sending rockets into space, Elon Musk busies himself promoting a new train-like form of transportation called a Hyperloop. Essentially a magnetically propelled pod that moves through a vacuum-sealed tube, the idea is to create a quiet, comfortable, and efficient method of moving people and things at incredibly high rates of speed. It’s not a new concept, but it’s certainly extremely technically challenging. However, the Los Angeles-based company Hyperloop One just announced a major breakthrough with the completion of the first phase in the creation of a real, working vactrain.
The announcement comes via press release stating that Phase 1 was completed May 12th at the DevLoop test track in Nevada. Parameters tested include the vacuum environment, the propulsion motor, the vehicle suspension, the magnetic levitation system, the electromagnetic brakes, and the vacuum pumping system. The pod coasted for 5.3 seconds and posted as much as 2 G’s of acceleration, reaching a speed of 70 mph. While far below the 700-mph top speed expected when this technology is fully developed, the Phase 1 completion is proof that development is indeed underway. The next phase will target a speed of 250 mph and take place on a longer track. Alongside the announcement of Phase 1 completion, Hyperloop 1 also unveiled its new pod prototype. Made from aluminum and carbon fiber, the pod is 28 feet long. Check out the included seven-and-a-half minute video of the test inside the control room for more.
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Hyperloop 1 claims it just ushered in the first new mode of transportation in 100 years, and although the validity of that statement is debatable, it’s certainly very encouraging to see progress being made. The things this tech promises are exciting to say the least – how about traveling from Los Angeles to San Francisco, a distance of 350 miles, in about a half hour? In a world searching for new transportation solutions, the Hyperloop could be a windfall.
So far, so good. Hopefully the Hyperloop One team will continue to plug away at making this thing a reality.