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Plug gets pulled on Hyperloop One [1]

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Date: 2024-01-03  

In late December, the announcement came that Hyperloop One was calling it quits. As I understand it, the intellectual property (IP) rights for the invention were being acquired by DP World and that the intent was to sell off the assets. A shocker no, though it is a setback. I had high hopes that this, what I call an alternative-mode (what others might refer to as an advanced-transit) option, was going—and would go—places. There is every reason to believe it could still.

That said, the technology if you will, strutted its stuff when, as reported, two people rode the device inside a tube that had attained a top speed of 107 mph.

Through my reading about the platform, I came to find out that it was decided the mechanism would transport, not passengers, but freight.

Who can forget all the hype about how capsules or pods would be propelled by little more than the influence of air (i.e., pressurized air but air nonetheless) inside enclosed tubes at hypersonic speeds? Honestly, I hope that ship hasn’t sailed nor is hope dashed.

But, by my being more than just a casual observer, I can’t help but be skeptical, if for no other reason than it’s been 10+ years since the white paper on Hyperloop was first made public.

To bring all more up to speed, Hyperloop One operational particulars are based—and were reliant—on the principle of passive magnetic levitation, a propulsion means requiring no external power source to cause the levitating effect. An employed linear-induction motor was, here again, as I understand it, what would enable device movement.

As such, operational speeds would not come close to the supersonic threshold that was once hyped, if not hoped for.

A second drawback I noticed early on was with what land would be turned over for purposes of construction of the transport-tube infrastructure, a tube that would in my mind’s eye, need to be arrow-straight. And, what would be the cost? All important considerations.

Then there was the matter of the throughput limitation. How many of the so-called transport “sleds” could practically or realistically be conveyed with system integrity all the while being maintained. To answer the call, I presume a kind of positive conveyance separation or avoidance architecture would be needed.

And, although I believed the bugs when it came to sled braking would eventually be worked out, there, as far as I know, was still that matter needing to be resolved.

Moreover, how effective or efficient would a system on this order even be in terms of it acting as a relief valve of sorts in freeing up roadway-, air- and navigable-waters space, as a means of transport overall becoming more efficient?

I think what I’m really asking is if Hyperloop or something comparable is the next generation in place-to-place goods and/or people delivery.

Or, is this the end of the road for this at-one-time super-hyped advanced-transit or alternative-mode platform?

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