What is hyperloop?
The Hyperloop concept was proposed by Elon Musk, the genius behind Tesla and SpaceX. It came as a direct reaction to the California High-Speed Rail System, one of the slowest and most expensive bullet train solutions in the world.
At its core, the Hyperloop is really simple. It consists of a really long tube, in this case one which stretches from San Francisco to Los Angeles. A pod capable of carrying passengers will be housed inside. The tubes will be closed off on both ends to create a low-pressure environment, effectively surrounding the pod with a cushion of air.
Magnetic accelerators stretching along the entire length of the tube will provide propulsion for the pod, which given how little (or no) friction the tube generates, will be capable of reaching mind-blowing speeds. Elon's goal of 700+ mph seems really optimistic, but the Hyperloop has already proven itself as functional.
Though it didn't reach speeds anywhere close to the proposed 700 mph, recent testing saw it breach the 240 mph barrier. The 'drive' from SF to LA would take just an hour and a half, even at those speeds. At 700 mph that time will be further cut down to just half an hour. You can watch the video of the testing here.
I honestly believe that something like the Hyperloop can solve a lot of the transportation and traffic issues we're experiencing today. Just think about it. Over 90 percent of all drivers would much rather not drive and arrive at their destination quicker, especially if it's a daily commute we're talking about.
Public transport is currently too congested and, more importantly, slow for most of us, hence why we choose to drive. Given the opportunity, would you not rather arrive to work four times faster and feel more energized once you get there? I know I would.
There's still a lot of testing to be done and I'm not sure many people would get into a 700 mph pod without making sure it's completely safe, but with the rate of technological progress, there's nothing that can't be done in a decade or so.
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