New Maglev Elevator Can Travel Horizontally, Vertically, and Diagonally (wired.co.uk)

An elevator that can move in any direction has been successfully tested by a German company named ThyssenKrupp. An anonymous reader quotes Wired UK: The Multi is the first ropeless lift, built using the same magnetic levitation technology used in Japan's bullet train and proposed for the Hyperloop. In the same way the train slides along a track horizontally, the lift travels both vertically, horizontally and diagonally around a building riding an electromagnetic field, a system known as a linear drive. "If you can run a 500-tonne train on magnets at 500km/h you should be able to elevate a cabin of 500 kilograms or 1,000 kilograms at a speed of five metres per second," [ThyssenKrupp CEO Andreas] Schierenbeck said.
The elevator can cost 3 to 5 times more than a regular elevator -- but can handle higher buildings than a conventional elevator.

Comments

Turbolift

[Anonymous Coward]

Next week on slashdot: phased energy weapons to be made available to security forces worldwide

Bit by bit, we're catching up with Star Wars technology.

Re:Turbolift

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah. I pressed submit and leaned back in my chair with an evil grin on my face. Someone will track me down and bludgeon me to death for it, but it was worth it.

But will the doors go "shhh!" when they traverse?

[TigerPlish]

Capt Kirk, Capt. James T. Kirk, you're wanted at Turbolift 1.

Nice work, Mr Musk

[Anonymous Coward]

Wait, what? Elon Musk isn't involved? But.......how is that even possible? Everyone knows Musk is the world's only living inventor!