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According to early reports the Hyperloop's initial tests (open air tests) were a success at their test track in North Las Vegas. Image.
It didn't go far but it did work. A metal sled accelerated from zero to 116 mph in 1.1 seconds, or about 2.4 Gs of force. It traveled little more than 100 meters, then stopped, kicking up a cloud of sand in the process.
The Verge has a couple articles Here, before the test and test pictures here.
Pencilled in for Q4 2016, however, is what the company is describing as its "Kitty Hawk" moment - a reference to the Wright Brother's first flight - where it plans to run a full-scale test track. Expected to be more than two miles of low-pressure tube, the pod inside should run at over 700 mph if all goes as planned.
Even if the system scales as Hyperloop One expects it to, human passengers may not be welcome, at least initially. The company is looking to cargo transportation as the most likely use for a commercial Hyperloop system - presumably because boxes and crates are less fragile than families - with interest already from a number of countries in a potential logistics system that would run through tubes and underground tunnels.
(Score: 2) by patella.whack on Thursday May 12 2016, @08:12AM
So easy to damage.
Agreed.
A nice idea and a it could possibly be a great application of modern technology. Not to mention, it's impressive in a sci-fi sense.
The vulnerabilities are obvious and many, though.
So a question that should probably be asked is this: Is there a sabotage scenario that is likely to occur after such an expensive investment? I'm inclined to say yes, because of the high profile attention that would result. Although, on the other hand, the box-cutter ruffians haven't even managed to poison a water supply.
(Score: 2) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Thursday May 12 2016, @08:33AM
Yes, it could be sabotaged, but name new one transportation system that couldn't. I don't think this thing will be any easier to disable than a regular train.all you need to do to disrupt one of those is to sneak on to the tracks (of which their are miles and miles guarded by nothing more than fences) and lay a piece of wood across the tracks.
If I was a terrorist intent on making the American public afraid to leave their houses, I can think of far more effective ways than blowing up a baggage train.
But hey, let's all do nothing new in case the scary terrorists use it against us,let's live our lives paralysed by fear, that's the way to beat terrorism, right?
(Score: 2) by patella.whack on Thursday May 12 2016, @08:42AM
Yeah, i think we agree. Lots of things could be sabotaged easily, and they haven't been.
The reason?
I'd say mostly because of the ineptitude of our so-called "freedom haters" bug-a-boo.
"But hey, let's all do nothing new in case the scary terrorists use it against us,let's live our lives paralysed by fear, that's the way to beat terrorism, right?"
I'm sure that's sarcasm, but I'm not sure who it's directed to. Where are the people who are paralyzed? Surely this endeavor is contrary evidence.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Joe Desertrat on Thursday May 12 2016, @04:38PM
Yeah, i think we agree. Lots of things could be sabotaged easily, and they haven't been.
The reason?
I'd say mostly because of the ineptitude of our so-called "freedom haters" bug-a-boo.
Maybe there are not really all that many "freedom haters"?
"But hey, let's all do nothing new in case the scary terrorists use it against us, let's live our lives paralysed by fear, that's the way to beat terrorism, right?"
I'm sure that's sarcasm, but I'm not sure who it's directed to. Where are the people who are paralyzed? Surely this endeavor is contrary evidence.
Judging by the many responses to this article who are immediately claiming that it will be a target for terrorists, there are a lot of people who are, if not paralyzed, at least fearful enough to raise strong objections.
(Score: 2) by patella.whack on Thursday May 26 2016, @07:04AM
Hey Joe,
(where you going with gun in your hand?)
Seriously though, I think we're in agreement,
too many people paralyzed with fear.
(Score: 2) by davester666 on Thursday May 12 2016, @08:44AM
It's more of how long it takes to get it up and running again. And how public it will be.
Right now, blowing up train tracks is no big deal. You'll derail a train going maybe 60-80 mph, and a day or two later, more trains will be going through.
Derailing a train going 700 mph as it passes through some small town is like hitting it with a missile. And then that section is down for weeks afterwards as they have to rebuild, test and depressurize the tube before they can send another train down that track.
This thing would have an immediate big red X on it.