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Hyperloop

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Re: Hyperloop

#821
post #269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm really impressed to see the entire thing out in the public. They showed the designs, proposed routes, stress analysis, cost analysis... It's quire clear that this isn't just some "Hey I thought of an idea", they really put a lot of work into this. I was worried this was going to be some pie-in-the-sky idea that was nebulous on a lot of basic details with quite a bit of "we can figure that out later".

> I was worried this was going to be some pie-in-the-sky idea Sure, they put a lot of theoretical analysis into it, but its still pretty pie-in-the-sky. From the last page, note that The authors recognize the need for additional work, including but not limited to: 1. More expansion on the control mechanism for Hyperloop capsules, including attitude thruster or control moment gyros. 2. Detailed station designs with lo…

American high speed rail was more advanced in the 1930s than it is today. The Zephyr diesel passenger engine was faster than Amtrak's Acela speeds today.

Re: Hyperloop

#822

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wake me when they actually happen (IE are built and available). SPUR's data comes from the SF planning department, which is now under tremendous pressure to at least claim they are doing something. Data on the actual ground (IE real estate listings, etc) do not support their claims, as anyone who tries to get a residential unit in SF can tell you. I'd love to know what they consider a "start". It shouldn't take multi…

Just because you're too ignorant and lazy to walk around looking at all the construction doesn't mean it's not there. There are over 4000 units actively under construction right now. That is a fact beyond argument.

We'll have to agree to disagree.

I've been in plenty of places like SF, which, when under pressure, simply make up statistics or change what they mean.

It's simply not a "fact beyond argument", when the only source of this "fact" are a group with a very strong vested interested in high numbers and a history of not truth telling. The 100-200 units number only came out after a lot of pushing.

They claim there are 22,000 units in planning/approval as of 2012, and we are 3/4 of the way through 2013.

Combined with the 4000 that were under construction, they should be visible by now somewhere.

Maybe you'd like to point out where you see 20k+ units under construction?

At that many, it should be blindingly obvious. SF is simply not that large, and does not have that much hidden space (open or otherwise).

Re: Hyperloop

#823
post #32

"In the case of the Hyperloop, Musk started focusing on public transportation after he grew disenchanted with the plans for California’s high-speed rail system." And who says that big government stifles entrepreneurial innovation? If ALL Musk does with the Hyperloop announcement is shed more light on the potential debacle that is to be our $70b+ high-speed rail in California, we owe him a debt of gratitude. PS - Dire…

"If ALL Musk does with the Hyperloop announcement is shed more light on the potential debacle that is to be our $70b+ high-speed rail in California, we owe him a debt of gratitude."

We would owe a debt of gratitude to a hypothetical public transport project for helping to obstruct or kill a real public transport project?

Re: Hyperloop

#824

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a difference between theory on a piece of paper the the reality of building something. In the real world unions will be all over a project like this. Up every crevice. So will environmental groups and other special interest groups. None of this is good for any major civil engineering project. I asked a question in my post. Can you name any new major civil engineering project in the US in the last fifty years?…

Unions exist for a reason. Consider another large scale transportation project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Panama_Canal

Thank god unions protect us from malaria. /s

The death toll during the (later) American phase of construction was dramatically lower, not because of unions. Here is the article you are looking for: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_measures_during_the_cons...

The "union solution" would have been to not dig the damn thing at all.

Re: Hyperloop

#826

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Putting on an oxygen mask is not a difficult operation.

Unless you are otherwise incapacitated due to whatever is causing the emergency in the first place.

You can always push "emergency break, quickly depresurize tube and open doors" button. No such luck in plane, and planes are still safer than cars.

Re: Hyperloop

#827
I'm really curious about turns and switches. The latter more about loading and unloading. If you have a platform to carry 300 people / hr to or from the other city how do you load them and keep them organized.

The failure scenarios are interesting too. Lets say a tube breaks, if the linear motors are spaced out, how do they brake? Turn off the air lift? Does that then destroy the tube they are in? What is the emergency exit like?

Re: Hyperloop

#828
post #797

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's definitely cool. I left about a year ago to join a startup, but that had more to do with wanting to live in NYC again than the submarine company. Two interesting books: http://www.amazon.com/Dark-Waters-Insiders-Account-Undercove... and http://www.amazon.com/Blind-Mans-Bluff-Submarine-Espionage/d...

As a fellow mech eng, what startup environment are you involved in and is it utilising your mech skillset or something else, eg: programming abilities?

My background is BS Mechanical Engineering, minor CS, primarily focused on robotics. Grew up programming and building robots. Worked at Bug Labs which bridged the gap pretty well, then went to General Dynamics for 100% mechanical engineering, now at getlua.com for 100% software. There are some mechanical startups around NYC (MakerBot is the obvious one) but I really liked the team and the product at Lua and I'm quite happy here.

Re: Hyperloop

#829

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not really an opinion so much as fact. Labor unions have proven to be beneficial only for the members of the union and politicians. If you had ever done business around them, you'd agree.

Wait, your political opinion reinforced by your own personal experiences is what passes as fact now? By golly, I've never met someone so enlightened. Please, tell me more.

What would it take to convince you? A peer reviewed study? Just take a look around at what unions have been up to in this country.

Look at the union-born gigantic pension issues in California and Illinois. http://www.illinoispolicy.org/blog/blog.asp?ArticleSource=60... or http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-01-29/news/ct-met-su...

Check out what unions did/do to convention centers in Chicago and Las Vegas. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-17/business/chi-0...

Look at the pay of BART employees. http://www.mercurynews.com/salaries/bay-area?Entity=Bay%20Ar...

Or is that all just anecdotal as well? I could go on.

Re: Hyperloop

#830

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just because you're too ignorant and lazy to walk around looking at all the construction doesn't mean it's not there. There are over 4000 units actively under construction right now. That is a fact beyond argument.

We'll have to agree to disagree. I've been in plenty of places like SF, which, when under pressure, simply make up statistics or change what they mean. It's simply not a "fact beyond argument", when the only source of this "fact" are a group with a very strong vested interested in high numbers and a history of not truth telling. The 100-200 units number only came out after a lot of pushing. They claim there are 22,00…

I'm sorry that you don't know what it means for construction to be approved. It means the units will be built in the future. This isn't Sim City.

If you are feeling exceptionally lazy and only have time to look outside your bubble once, go to Market between 7th and 9th. The new building on 8th between Market and Mission has over 1900 units (over 1400 units net of what were demolished) and the one at 55 9th Street has 300 new units on what used to be an empty field.

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