Hyperloop Test Takes Futuristic Transport Concept Closer to Reality

By now, the Hyperloop, hailed by many as the future of transport, needs little introduction. Proclaimed as the next significant leap in the way we travel, this remarkable transportation system was open-sourced and proposed by the visionary entrepreneur Elon Musk in 2013. Capable of carrying passengers at breathtaking speeds of up to 700 miles per hour (or 1,125 kilometers per hour), the Hyperloop concept is stirring up a transport revolution. If you’re eager to dive deeper into its intricacies, you can explore our previous article on the subject.

In a recent step forward, Hyperloop One, a pioneering company driving the advancement of the Hyperloop system, has shared an intriguing video that suggests the Hyperloop timeline might be accelerating. Founded by former SpaceX propulsion engineer Brogan BamBrogan, Hyperloop One is unravelling this futuristic concept into tangible reality. A CNN Money video offers a simplified explanation of its technology, demonstrating a skeletal metal sled zooming down a track at 2.5 times the force of gravity, hitting 116 miles per hour before dramatically crashing into a sand pit.

During the test, engineers stationed in a control room oversaw the action-packed scene. The track area, humming with 7,000 volts of electricity, was strictly cleared of all personnel. This 1,000-yard open-air track serves as just the genesis of an ambitious larger test track Hyperloop One intends to erect, with sections of giant, 3.3-meter diameter tubes — all branded with the Hyperloop One logo — sitting in readiness nearby.

The next phase includes utilizing these massive tubes to construct a 1.5-kilometer enclosed track. The company then plans to commence testing technologies that will enable sleds to levitate, reducing friction and allowing for even higher speeds. Borrowing aviation principles, the plan ensures that passengers will only feel the initial acceleration, akin to the ascent phase of an airplane journey.

Hyperloop One sets its sights high, aiming to officially commence cargo transportation by 2019, and passenger transportation by 2021. The company recently formed strategic partnerships with numerous prominent transportation firms worldwide and has started identifying potential sites for its maiden commercial track. The dawning of the Hyperloop age could significantly transform the transportation landscape for years to come.

Meanwhile, startups have begun to tap into the potential of this revolutionary concept. Hyperloop One has raised an impressive $80 million in funding to diversify and enrich the development of the project and has amassed a team of 150 devoted employees to propel its plans forward. Budding enterprises, both across the developed world and beyond, are expressing their interest in exploring this groundbreaking mode of transport.