World’s first Hyperloop passenger capsule unveiled
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Published: 10th Oct, 2018
US-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) has unveiled its first full-scale transportation capsule at Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain.
Context
US-based Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) has unveiled its first full-scale transportation capsule at Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain.
About
What is Hyperloop?
Hyperloop is a new form of ground transport currently in development by a number of companies, which could see passengers travelling at 700 miles an hour in floating pods within low-pressure tubes.
The pods carrying passengers travel through tubes or tunnels from which most of the air has been removed to reduce friction.
Rather than using wheels like a train or car, the pods are designed to float on air skis, using the same basic idea as an air hockey table, or use magnetic levitation to reduce friction.
Capsule
The unveiled capsule is named as ‘Quintero One’ and weighs about 5 tonnes.
It has been made completely out of HTT’s “Vibranium”, a specially made dual layer smart composite material.
The capsule will be fully optimized and ready for passengers by 2019.
Use of Vibranium in the capsule:
It is a special dual layer composite material light enough for reducing the energy requirement to propel the capsule.
The material is plugged-in and innervated with thousands of sensors designed to transmit diagnostic information wirelessly.
The material captures the real time data on temperature, damage, structural integrity etc. to craft the capsules for the tubular transit system.
It is eight times stronger than aluminium and ten times stronger than any steel.
Hyperloop in India:
In September 2017, Andhra Pradesh government signed a memorandum of understandingMoU with Hyperloop Transportation Technology to develop a hyperloop between Amravati and Vijayavada.
In February 2018, Maharashtra government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyperloop One, an American company to develop a hyperloop between Pune and Mumbai.
Significance
Hyperloop technology is revolutionary intervention in transportation technology. Once developed fully, it could make the transportation of people and goods easier, faster and less expensive.
The Pune-Mumbai hyperloop route will be an economic catalyst for the region and would create tens of thousands of jobs for India's world-class manufacturing, construction, service, and IT sectors.