Urban Transport

Hyperloop One unveils pods and portals design

Hyperloop One unveils pods and portals design
Hyperloop One and BIG have envisaged an autonomous transportation system that eliminates waiting time and provides seamless connections
Hyperloop One and BIG have envisaged an autonomous transportation system that eliminates waiting time and provides seamless connections
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Hyperloop One and BIG have envisaged an autonomous transportation system that eliminates waiting time and provides seamless connections
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Hyperloop One and BIG have envisaged an autonomous transportation system that eliminates waiting time and provides seamless connections
Hyperloop One has created concept designs for its Hyperloop through a six-month collaboration with Danish architects BIG
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Hyperloop One has created concept designs for its Hyperloop through a six-month collaboration with Danish architects BIG
The Hyperloop One concept designs envisage central portals from where Hyperloop transporters are dispatched
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The Hyperloop One concept designs envisage central portals from where Hyperloop transporters are dispatched
The Hyperloop One concept designs see users boarding 6-8 person pods at local interchanges
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The Hyperloop One concept designs see users boarding 6-8 person pods at local interchanges
The Hyperloop One pods are envisaged as having lounge, work or meeting layouts
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The Hyperloop One pods are envisaged as having lounge, work or meeting layouts
The Hyperloop One concept designs envisage pods traveling autonomously to a central Hyperloop "portal"
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The Hyperloop One concept designs envisage pods traveling autonomously to a central Hyperloop "portal"
Clusters of four Hyperloop One pods would be loaded into a transporter, which would then travel between locations at near supersonic speeds
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Clusters of four Hyperloop One pods would be loaded into a transporter, which would then travel between locations at near supersonic speeds
View gallery - 7 images

Although Hyperloop One has been quick to raise funds, grow its staff and demo its basic tech, we've still been offered little idea of what its Hyperloop might look like. Now though, Danish architect BIG has given us a glimpse of a system conceived to integrate with society and infrastructure.

The concepts are based on what Hyperloop One says will be the first-ever Hyperloop routes, between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. They also imagine how such a network, operating in both urban and inter-city capacities, might fit into existing town and city transport frameworks.

Conventional public transport interchanges where passengers must wait for their bus or train are done away with. Instead, through a six-month collaboration, Hyperloop One and BIG have envisaged an autonomous transportation system that eliminates waiting time and provides seamless connections.

The Hyperloop One pods are envisaged as having lounge, work or meeting layouts
The Hyperloop One pods are envisaged as having lounge, work or meeting layouts

The proposal shows passengers booking Hyperloop journeys via mobile devices and being directed to a gate number at a local interchange, or "portal." Here, they will be able to immediately board a pod that can accommodate around 6-8 people. It will be possible for users to book into different types of pod, such as lounge, work or meeting pods, depending on how they wish to use their travel time.

The pods will then travel autonomously by road to a Hyperloop One portal, where, in clusters of four, they will fill Hyperloop trains, or "transporters." Once ready, the transporters will be maneuvered to the tubes before traveling between locations at near supersonic speeds. Hyperloop One sees this efficiency of time as redefining how we will view travel.

"We're going to create a seamless experience that starts the moment you think about being somewhere – not going somewhere," says president of engineering at Hyperloop One Josh Giegel in a press release. "We don't sell cars, boats, trains, or planes. We sell time. This puts an end to us being a 'pod-in-a-tube' or 'fast train from SF to LA' company."

Clusters of four Hyperloop One pods would be loaded into a transporter, which would then travel between locations at near supersonic speeds
Clusters of four Hyperloop One pods would be loaded into a transporter, which would then travel between locations at near supersonic speeds

In addition to unveiling the concept designs, Hyperloop One has announced a sixth partner agreement. The deal, with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, will see Hyperloop One work with BIG and McKinsey to evaluate the feasibility of deploying a Hyperloop in Dubai and the UAE. it is the second such partner agreement in Dubai after the announcement in August of a deal to evaluate the feasibility of a cargo Hyperloop at the deepwater Jebel Ali port.

"The momentum is global and accelerating," says Hyperloop One CEO Rob Lloyd. "The world will see the test of the first full-scale Hyperloop system in early 2017 at our test and safety site in Nevada and we will have multiple operational Hyperloop systems within five years."

The video below provides an overview of the Hyperloop One concepts.

Sources: BIG, Hyperloop One

The Hyperloop One System

View gallery - 7 images
3 comments
3 comments
Helios
Another fine example this morning (US) showcasing the collective insanity of modern society. We can travel at the speed of light already. It's called the Internet and apps such as skype. The hyperloop concept is nothing but an adolescent fantasy. Sure it's sexy and fun to imagine but the necessity of it is nil, and the cost is immoral. Humans today have already achieved a standard of living that exceeds that of our ancestors by several lifetimes. And yet we continue to demand more and more and more. Know this, you cannot ever save time, you can only spend it. Spend it wisely.
toyhouse
For business travel, the loop would seem to offer fuel savings over flying and a much lighter footprint on emissions. Obviously, over select routes. Perhaps, one of the bigger uses for the loop will be freight? Once again, a few less airplanes and trains hauling things besides people - quickly and cleanly. I'll admit, much at this point is probably unknown. Is it worth a shot? Looks good so far - perhaps small scale tests first. As for the comments of insanity, fantasy and such, this or any tech for that matter, often start out as fantasy. It's not always about more either, but about finding new ways to do things better.
OlegGolovin
I completely agree with toyhouse. It is unbelievable to see a prototype in only 6 months ! Could you imagine this only five years ago ? The fantasy will come true.