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Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

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141–150 of 202 posts

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would gleefully slap another $50-100 onto every plane ticket I ever bought to ensure that there was nobody anywhere on the plane under the age of 16. I can't be the only one...

I'm sure that kid will feel the same way about paying for your Social Security someday.

I certainly don't count on that scenario ever playing out... By all means though, those children should be able to pay $50-100 for the privilege to never pay into social security. That is a great idea.

What is your thesis here, I shouldn't be annoyed by children because one day I will be old? Not sure I understand that logic. "Being annoyed" isn't even a proper choice; if I could turn it off, I certainly would. In fact, I would say that the ability to turn if off for a few hours at a time is worth about $50-100 to me......

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#142
post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But that's the beauty of it! You can make those pylons anywhere, truck them in, and install them in whatever order you want. It's construction....that scales up almost effortlessly.

perhaps you can pour sections and truck those in, but there's no way in hell you're moving a precast that size on anything that doesn't float. For scale, you know those 4' by 4' by 8' blocks of cement you see all over the place, used for erosion control and the like? They're called ecology blocks, they're about $20 each FOB the cement plant. You want them shipped? A lowboy can carry two or four at a time without exce…

Pretty sure you can truck pylons if you can truck in precast bridge decks:

https://www.google.com/search?q=precast+bridge+deck

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would gleefully slap another $50-100 onto every plane ticket I ever bought to ensure that there was nobody anywhere on the plane under the age of 16. I can't be the only one...

Only 50-100? I would go as far as 200! :)

Well, I probably would too, but depending on the airline, that is nearing first class levels.

Of course on many/most planes "first class" does not get you isolation from children... (certainly not for that low a price) but at least you get unlimited liquor and legroom. I'd be willing to pay more for a flight without children but I would want some unlimited liquor once I go over 200 or so.

On this note, what would be the booze situation on hyperloops? There isn't an aisle on those things as far as I can tell, which means no stewardesses... Maybe per-seat minibars could be installed on them? Strictly speaking it wouldn't be necessary for 30 minute rides, but I see no reason this idea shouldn't be scaled up past 30 minute trips (Musk points out that supersonic airliners are better at longer distances, but since we don't have those either I'd settle for a 30+ minute hyperloop. Both a hyperloop and a return of Concord/Tu-144 would be great of course.)

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#144

Interesting quote: The intent of this document has been to create a new open source form of transportation that could revolutionize travel. The authors welcome feedback and will incorporate it into future revisions of the Hyperloop project, following other open source models such as Linux.

I would really like to see people starting to build small scale models from this design. It could become the new version of building a rocket in your backyard.

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#145
post #17

The focus from people on bathrooms is puzzling to me. I've been on buses, without facilities, that go for hours without stopping. This is a 35 minute ride with restricted movement, if you greatly fear being able to hold it for that long, there are other, less efficient methods of transport to accommodate you.

Well it's not just a matter of bathrooms.

Even on a commuter bus or plane, if someone has a medical emergency and needs to get off right now, the bus will pull over or the plane will land. In this design you'd have to just sit there, helpless, until the vehicle reaches its destination. Heck, even if you're a doctor in the next seat you wouldn't be able to get up and help your fellow passenger.

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#146
post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In Singapore all short haul trains (called MRT) are either underground or on Pylons. Seems to work out well enough there.

Yes (I lived in Singapore for 2.5 years) but they go quite slow. Top speed of the most recent, unmanned MRT (yellow line) is about 65 Km/h.

Yes. I was just talking about pylons being viable.

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bored people don't shoot guns at trains today. Why would they start?

Because there's no possibility that shooting at a train would result in a fireball a thousand yards high, whereas...

How thick are propane tanker cars?

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#149
post #17

The focus from people on bathrooms is puzzling to me. I've been on buses, without facilities, that go for hours without stopping. This is a 35 minute ride with restricted movement, if you greatly fear being able to hold it for that long, there are other, less efficient methods of transport to accommodate you.

It's a very small space, with no apparent facility to handle not just #1 and #2, but severe gastric distress. The other passengers then get to look forward to up to 25 minutes in that closed space. There's no stewardess, no way to stop the vehicle. An "emergency evacuation module" shouldn't take much room.

Re: Hyperloop Alpha [pdf]

#150
post #145
post #17

The focus from people on bathrooms is puzzling to me. I've been on buses, without facilities, that go for hours without stopping. This is a 35 minute ride with restricted movement, if you greatly fear being able to hold it for that long, there are other, less efficient methods of transport to accommodate you.

Well it's not just a matter of bathrooms. Even on a commuter bus or plane, if someone has a medical emergency and needs to get off right now , the bus will pull over or the plane will land. In this design you'd have to just sit there, helpless, until the vehicle reaches its destination. Heck, even if you're a doctor in the next seat you wouldn't be able to get up and help your fellow passenger.

They discuss this in the paper. In the event of a medical emergency the pod will proceed to the destination as normal, and paramedics can be waiting at the end. In the absolute worst case you are looking at ~30 minutes before you can get to medical attention. That's not obviously worse than the time it would take a plane to descend from cruising altitude to the nearest airport, land, and taxi to a gate.
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