Inside Virgin Hyperloop’s huge test tube in the middle of the Nevada desert where pods will ‘travel 670 miles an hour’
TUBE travel at supersonic speeds is about to become a reality.
"The way we think about where we live, where we work, the way we think about distances will be very different," Virgin Hyperloop's director of test engineering, Samer Hamade said.
PROTOTYPE
The company backed by Sir Richard Branson is attempting to optimize transportation by sending high-tech pods whooshing at 670MPH through airless tubes.
Virgin constructed its 550-yard long "Devloop" prototype tube just outside Las Vegas in the desert.
Its brain trust stood on the shoulders of , CNET reported.
ELON'S HYPERLOOP ALPHA
Back in 2013, Musk envisioned the , where pods would mimic postal pneumatic tubes and tunnel travel in flashing speeds to get to cities in the same state or even achieve transatlantic commutes.
“At one extreme of the potential solutions is some enlarged version of the old pneumatic tubes used to send mail and packages within and between buildings.
“You could, in principle, use very powerful fans to push air at high speed through a tube and propel people-sized pods all the way from LA to San Francisco.”
VIRGIN'S SECRET INGREDIENT
Virgin's concept relies on pods using a proprietary maglev (or "magnetic levitation") system to power and help navigate the pods through the tubes, according to CNET.
“Since our founding in 2013, HyperloopTT has worked across administrations to demonstrate key technical features and educate lawmakers on the transformative benefits of hyperloop travel.
“Now, as the bill progresses towards becoming law, the future of hyperloop travel in the United States is secured.”
The infrastructure bill is currently awaiting a final vote in the Senate.
But moderate members of its own Democratic majority ranks, like Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, appear to remain on the fence and need convincing, reported.
Each has raised concerns about the size and scope of the programs.
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