Hyperloop One Reveals Test Track Progress (computerworld.com.au)

Hyperloop One has released the first photographs of its "proof of concept" test track near Las Vegas, Nevada, and there's now also a couple short videos online. Slashdot reader angry tapir quotes Computerworld: The company revealed its progress on Tuesday at the Middle East Rail conference in Dubai, sharing pictures and footage of its Nevada development site dubbed "DevLoop." Taking Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept of a levitating pod in a low-pressure tube, Hyperloop One has developed what is so far the only full-scale, full-system Hyperloop test site...and says it plans to test the entire apparatus this year.
In addition, Investopedia reports that Hyperloop One has now also signed letter of intent agreements to investigate the feasibility of building more hyperloop systems in Finland and the Netherlands.

Comments

Re:Emergencies?

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

Looking at photos of the test track, you have to wonder how the hell do you get out if something goes wrong?

You cut the bodies out with the Jaws of Life and vacuum up the remains with a ShopVac.

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What happens if there is a sudden "repressurization"?

You cut the bodies out with the Jaws of Life and vacuum up the remains with a ShopVac.

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What if the motive element fails and the pod comes to a halt? There you are, stuck in a sealed tube.

You cut the bodies out with the Jaws of Life and cart them away on gurneys.

Re:Emergencies?

[Zocalo]

...able to withstand massive amounts of pressure from a vacuum.

I never cease to be amazed how many people think vacuum exerts a massive amount of pressure; Hollywood has a *LOT* to answer for for all those ridiculous explosive decompression scenes. The pressure between hard vacuum and atmosphere at sea level is exactly 1 atmosphere; you can get more pressure differential in a typical swimming pool. There's a reason spacecraft are about as rigid as a tin can and submarines are built out of many tonnes of steel and titanium, and it's that one has to deal with some pressure and the other... doesn't. If anything, the tube of the hyperloop is likely to be under more stress from the capilliary action of the vehicles (are we going with rail terminology and calling them "cars" or something else?) and bowshock in the less than perfect vacuum then pressure from the external atmosphere.