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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: 5, Funny) by b0ru on Thursday May 12 2016, @08:19AM
I must admit, there's a certain appeal to firing humans through a railgun. If this project fails, I wonder if it can be pointed space-wards and repurposed as a management relocator...
(Score: 2) by dyingtolive on Thursday May 12 2016, @08:40AM
Pointing it space-wards for use as a spaceship launcher sounds fascinating, in a sci-fi sort of way. I'm not a rocket surgeon, so I have no idea if it'd work. You did identify the ideal test group though.
Don't blame me, I voted for moose wang!
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday May 12 2016, @11:50AM
See StarTram [wikipedia.org]. Would suit SpaceX quite nice to drive the space launches further down.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by q.kontinuum on Thursday May 12 2016, @09:09AM
firing humans through a railgun.
Isn't it much easier and efficient to fire [with] a railgun through humans? Although probably less spectacular...
Registered IRC nick on chat.soylentnews.org: qkontinuum
(Score: 3, Insightful) by b0ru on Thursday May 12 2016, @09:13AM
Not to mention missing the opportunity for a manned solar surface exploration program.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 12 2016, @04:08PM
I agree, but Hyperloop doesn't use a railgun [wikipedia.org]. It uses a linear induction motor [wikipedia.org], according to TFA.
(Score: 1) by segwonk on Wednesday May 18 2016, @11:57AM
I wonder if it could be modified to be a solution for transport on a space elevator?
Constant 1 or 2 G acceleration/deceleration the whole way - can someone who's good with math could figure out how it would take?
.......go til ya know.