Technology has been around for thousands of years. Humanity still strives to create new and ingenious ideas to solve different problems. Technological developments can be seen in different areas, like in communication and transportation. However, there is a need for more technology to improve the efficiency of various operations. The hyperloop is a new mode of transport that will enhance the efficiency of travel. The technology is currently being developed by several companies and will improve transportation speeds where passengers travel at more than 700 miles an hour. The speed is slightly higher than air travel as it will take place in low-pressure tubes either above or below the ground with minimal friction and air resistance. This paper will analyze the idea of the hyperloop as the future of transportation by considering its design, prototype, testing, implementation, current status, future plans, and adaptations.
Description of the Idea
Conceptual Design
The design of the hyperloop is in the form of a sealed pod that floats above the surface. The sealed tube will be in a low air pressure environment allowing it to travel with minimal friction and air pressure. The hyperloop will use magnetic levitation to keep the passenger pods above the track. The capsule will float on a layer of air under pressure of air-casters, similar to how pucks levitate above the air hockey table. The pod will generate its velocity from an external electric motor that should boost it every 70 miles. Linear induction motors located around the tube should accelerate and decelerate the capsule at the appropriate speeds.
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Prototype
The prototype of the hyperloop was created by Elon Musk and was referred to as the Hyperloop Alpha. Musk (2013) wrote a paper for a hyperloop service between Los Angeles and San Francisco. He argued that the new transportation system would be safer, faster, affordable, self-powering, weather-proof, and less-disruptive. The capsule is expected to carry on average 28 passengers while other bigger versions can carry up to 40 passengers and luggage. The hyperloop will be energy efficient and less costly than air travel and high-speed trains (Kupriyanovsky et al., 2020). It is also expected that it will be powered by solar panels placed at the top of the tubes, allowing it to generate the energy required to run.
Testing
The testing of the hyperloop can be carried out in different phases. The first phase is through a small track of a few miles. The requirements for a successful test are that the hyperloop uses electric propulsion for movement and electromagnetic levitation keeps it above the track. The tests should first be carried out without any passengers. If successful, the test can be carried out with passengers. Different companies have carried out various tests, and one of the firsts tests was conducted by The Virgin Hyperloop One. The tests were conducted in a depressurized tube at an air pressure equal to 200,000 feet above sea level. The pod lifted above the track through magnetic levitation and glided at airline speeds due to well-designed aerodynamics (Opgenoord & Caplan, 2018). The success of the tests means that the project is ready for future implementation.
Implementation
If implemented, it is expected that it will have shorter travel times than the airplane and train. The loop will go for over long distances of up to 930 miles. The hyperloop’s price tag is expected to be approximately $6bn, and the capsule could go for $1.35m a peace. Considering that the Hyperloop will be energy efficient, it will be a more affordable alternative as people could pay $20 to move from one location to another’. The implementation is expected to cover different routes. Tests are being carried out in countries like the United States and India, and the implementation should begin in those countries. Implementing the hyperloop will have minimal disruption when it is done underground.
Current Status
The current status of the Hyperloop project shows that it is in the testing phase. Different tests have been conducted on the hyperloop pod where it has successfully moved from one location to another. The most recent tests were carried out by the Virgin Hyperloop, where it conducted the first human passenger test. Two passengers were transferred in an airlock as the air inside the loop was removed. The pod accelerated up to 100 miles per hour before finally reaching a stop (Hawkins, 2020). While the top speed of the tests was not relatively high, it revealed the possibility of such modes of transportation. Virgin Hyperloop One has also had partnerships with the Economic City Authority (ECA) in Saudi Arabia to construct a 35-kilometer test hyperloop track. The Boring Company also won a $48.6m contract to design underground tunnels for autonomous electric vehicles. The company submitted a 6.5-mile tunnel that will run between Culver City and Los Angeles. There has been no actual implementation of the hyperloop where it transports passengers.
Future Plans
The future plans for the hyperloop are to carry out more tests and implement it as a form of transport. Different companies are working to turn the idea into a fully-functioning transportation system. The current tests of the hyperloop have been successful, and it is expected that the actual implementation will take place in 2025. One of the main challenges that the hyperloop vehicle will have is maintaining safety. The high-speed rail can reach high speeds of 760 mph that can amplify the danger. The hyperloop costs are also expected to be significantly high where it could cost between $9 billion and $13 billion (Hawkins, 2020). No government has awarded any contract for the building of a hyperloop system. Another challenge is the ability to maintain vacuum in the tube, which can stretch hundreds of miles. Every time a pod arrives at a station, it has to decelerate, its airlock closes, gets pressurized, and opens up. The pod has to clear the airlock before the next pod arrives. The implementation of multiple pods can be challenging.
Adaptations
The design and implementation of the hyperloop show how technology can be used to improve efficiency and solve different problems in the world. The conceptual design, prototype, testing, and implementation of the hyperloop has been a collaborative effort by different scientists and companies. The collaborative approach can be applied to solve problems in other areas. Such collaboration has made it possible to create multiple prototypes and test tracks that can actualize the new mode of transportation (Kupriyanovsky et al., 2020). Technology should also be applied in different areas to improve the efficiency of different operations. The hyperloop idea also started as science fiction, and multiple successful tests have shown that implementing the idea is possible. The entire process shows that collaboration and creativity can be used to realize almost anything, even concepts that appear a science fiction.
Conclusion
The hyperloop came about as a prototype by Elon Musk, who inspired many people to test out the new transportation mode. It comes in the form of a pod that travels in a vacuum and has less air resistance. The energy efficiency of the hyperloop makes it a better and energy-saving mode of transportation. The current progress of the Hyperloop is in the testing phase, where it has been tested on multiple tracks. The continual testing of the project means that it will overcome multiple challenges to become a new mode of transportation. The success of the hyperloop will show that the current progress in technology can be used to bring science fiction to life.
References
Hawkins, A. J. (2020). TheVerge. Virgin Hyperloop hits an important milestone: The first human passenger test. https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/8/21553014/virgin-hyperloop-first-human-test-speed-pod-tube
Kupriyanovsky, V., Klimov, A., Alenkov, V., Pokusaev, O., & Dobrynin, A. (2020). Hyperloop-current status and future challenges. International Journal of Open Information Technologies , 8 (7), 129-144. http://www.injoit.ru/index.php/j1/article/view/966
Musk, E. (2013). Hyperloop alpha. SpaceX: Hawthorne, CA, USA .
Opgenoord, M. M., & Caplan, P. C. (2018). Aerodynamic design of the Hyperloop concept. AIAA Journal , 56 (11), 4261-4270. https://doi.org/10.2514/1.J057103
