Page 11 - SAEINDIA Magazine December 2020
P. 11

COVER



                                                                                                  Story





        HYPERLOOP: FAST FORWARD TO THE FUTURE


        The term ‘Hyperloop’ has created quite a buzz in the transportation sector.

































        Hyperloop consists of a sealed tube or a system of tubes   transport load much better. Indeed, Hyperloop will be
        with very low air pressure inside, through which a pod   the “inter-city metro”.
        can travel at large speeds for transporting passengers   The development of Hyperloop technology requires
        or cargo. In today’s fast-paced world, the transportation   high tech research and engineering to a great
        sector is facing challenges to keep up with the growing   extent, considering various challenges that the tube
        requirements and expectations while trying to find a   structure and the travelling pod have to handle. The
        balance between speed, efficiency, and environmental   tube structures should meet all the infrastructural
        sustainability. Hence, many contributors, as well as   and operational requirements for facilitating a high-
        institutions all around the globe, are striving to make the   speed travelling pod across the different landscapes
        newly proposed solution of Hyperloop a reality. Due to its   and throughout the year. The pod will require a lot
                                                        th
        unique features, it has been often looked upon as the 5    of multi-disciplinary innovations to put together
        mode of transportation.
                                                              all the subsystems of propulsion, braking, power
        Hyperloop can strongly compete with                                    systems, controls, communications,
        the other conventional transportation                                  structures, and suspension.
        means on multiple verticals of                                         The safety and comfort of the
        speed, energy, and economic costs.                                     passengers hosted inside the
        However, the infrastructural and other                                 passenger cabin area of utmost
        complexities do not restrict India to                                  priority.  
        be outside the viable zone. Hyperloop                                  Early Beginnings of Tube
        can have potential implementations                                     Transportation
        for freight as well as passenger
        transport in the country. In fact,                                     In 1799, designer George Medhurst
        Hyperloop can play a significant role                                  proposed a plan to move products
        in handling the inter-city passenger                                   through cast-iron lines utilizing
                                                                               gaseous tension. In 1844, he


        MOBILITY ENGINEERING                                                                   DECEMBER 2020    9
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