At the end of July, Hyperloop One completed its second series of full systems test in a vacuum environment. The engineers blasted the prototype pod down the testing track in the Nevada Desert. They reached a top speed of 192mph. However, CEO of Hyperloop One, Rob Lloyd believes that the portrayed speed is no indication of what the system could have achieved had they not run out of tube to push the limits.
A Recap: What is Hyperloop One?
Elon Musk conceptualized the Hyperloop concept in 2013, open-sourced it, and many companies, including Hyperloop One, are working to bring it to life. The Hyperloop is a proposed transport system where pods travel at high speeds through low-resistance, vacuum tubes. The design makes it autonomous, quiet, and nonstop.
While the San Francisco to Los Angeles route isn’t being developed by Hyperloop One, SpaceX is working on it. On May 12th, Hyperloop One made history by testing the first full-scale Hyperloop. With a projected launch in 2021, we hope there are no delays so we can soon experience these revolutionary, superfast pods.
First Systems test
Hyperloop One completed its first ever full systems test for Hyperloop in a vacuum environment recently. The company privately conducted this at its test track, “Devloop,” in the Nevada desert. The vehicle traversed through the first portion of the track in 5.3 seconds using magnetic levitation, hitting nearly 2G acceleration. The team set a phase 1 target of 70mph, and they have achieved it. The first systems test proved that Hyerloop is real and that it works. The team conducted the second systems test for faster speed and farther distance.
Second Systems tests
On the 29th of July, 2017, Hyperloop One completed the second phase of it’s testing. This resulted in achieving historic speeds after letting the pod travel for a full 500 metres along the DevLoop track in the Nevada desert. The pod glided above the track using magnetic levitation. The team loaded passengers and cargo into the pod and gradually accelerated it using an electric push through the low-pressure tube.
After the second system of tests, CEO Rob Lloyd believes that they have finally proven that the technology works and are now “ready to enter into a discussion with partners” regarding commercialization of the technology.
How does the Hyperloop work
The Hyperloop uses pods that travel at very high speeds through a tube in near-vacuum. Pods float using magnetic levitation technology. The pods are expected to run at a projected speed of 760 mph with minute friction. The pods are initially launched using an electric motor before levitation takes place. The pod can then glide through the low pressure environment. The construction team will build tunnels for the Hyperloop either above or below the ground. Air between the capsules prevent two successive capsules from colliding in the tube. In the first testing phase, the pod attained a speed of 70+mph thus achieving it’s target. In the second testing phase it attained a whopping speed of almost 200mph.
Elon Musk’s Hyperloop
In due time, Elon Musk’s company – the aptly named Boring company, will start testing its tunnels for super fast transportation. The entrepreneur is already psyched to have received verbal confirmation from the Government Officials on executing his idea and is probably working on the SF-LA route. Maybe Hyperloop One will work together.
