2
2
0
SpaceX
Technology
Innovation
Transportation
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
1
1
0
Best criticism I've heard? That kind of speed means any concrete settling or minor earthquakes (like from a major fault-line on which this might be built, hypothetically) will become very unpleasant for passengers.
(1)
(0)
(1)
(0)
LTC Yinon Weiss
I'm less concerned about the engineering safety of it. I'm sure there were plenty of people who could poke a lot of holes at single points of failure in putting people in airplanes a hundred years ago. If we think over a long time horizon, we should have confidence that the engineering safety questions can be resolved.
More concerning is the practicality. One can already travel from LA to SF at 420MPH if they want... just get on an airplane. The time cost doesn't currently come from the actual transit, but at the start and end points. A lot of people traveling from LA to SF spend a whole lot more time getting to the airport than they do in flight, let alone the time it takes to navigate the airport, get through TSA, and taxi each way. Most of the time lost is therefore not in travel (which again, is 420MPH), but at the airports. The hyperloop can be more efficient in small numbers, but how efficient will the start and end point be if it has to process 250,000 people a day like LAX does? You might save a few minutes on the transit time, but I don't see the actual transport technology solving the real problem, which is the start and end points as bottlenecks... certainly not as long as the TSA and government regulations run them.
Capt Brandon Charters
More concerning is the practicality. One can already travel from LA to SF at 420MPH if they want... just get on an airplane. The time cost doesn't currently come from the actual transit, but at the start and end points. A lot of people traveling from LA to SF spend a whole lot more time getting to the airport than they do in flight, let alone the time it takes to navigate the airport, get through TSA, and taxi each way. Most of the time lost is therefore not in travel (which again, is 420MPH), but at the airports. The hyperloop can be more efficient in small numbers, but how efficient will the start and end point be if it has to process 250,000 people a day like LAX does? You might save a few minutes on the transit time, but I don't see the actual transport technology solving the real problem, which is the start and end points as bottlenecks... certainly not as long as the TSA and government regulations run them.
Capt Brandon Charters
(2)
(0)
Capt Brandon Charters
LTC Yinon Weiss - Valid point on the big picture of moving thousands of people. From a speed perspective, it's projected to reach 700mph (roughly 30min from SF to LA). Still doesn't solve the bottleneck issue, but the number of passengers should be much lower than a global hub like LAX would need to process. Multiple tracks and longer trams may help support more passengers, but you're right about the government oversight. Once TSA steps in, say goodbye to start and end point efficiency.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Capt Brandon Charters
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Seeing news that is reporting on the vision... goal is to be passenger ready by 2018: http://www.newsweek.com/elon-musks-hyperloop-vision-passenger-ready-2018-418091
(1)
(0)
(1)
(0)
Capt Brandon Charters
Letting SGT Jason Noma know so he can mention our excitement to Elon next time they chat :)
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
That would be so cool for my Annual Trip to Seattle and Portland. Oh Hell Yeah!
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google