SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition • Hacker News Board

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#11

Post by dtparr » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:24 PM UTC

toomuchtodo wrote: post #5

dtparr wrote: post #3

I thought this was an interesting tidbit from the linked rules pdf: > In addition to hosting the competition, SpaceX will likely build a pod for demonstration purposes only. This team will not be eligible to win.

I think that's admirable, and doesn't strike me as out of the ordinary for Elon. SpaceX has some remarkable engineering talent (which also transfers tech to Tesla; see their friction stir welding technique that is used by both companies now). It wouldn't be fair for SpaceX to be able to win.

I agree SpaceX recusing itself from winning its own competition is the right thing, but the bit I found interesting was just that they were building a pod as well as the track, putting even more skin in the metaphorical game.

I've had projects before where I came up with an interesting idea but dismissed it as too costly (in time or money or what have you), but it stuck in my head. So then, well maybe I'll just do a quick proof of concept... And then, well, maybe I can hack something a bit more complete together. Eventually, despite myself, it makes it to being a fully formed thing just because it was so interesting I couldn't ignore it.

I'm wondering if the Hyperloop is going to be that sort of thing for Elon et al.

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#12

Post by kiba » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:28 PM UTC

dtparr wrote: post #11

toomuchtodo wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think that's admirable, and doesn't strike me as out of the ordinary for Elon. SpaceX has some remarkable engineering talent (which also transfers tech to Tesla; see their friction stir welding technique that is used by both companies now). It wouldn't be fair for SpaceX to be able to win.

I agree SpaceX recusing itself from winning its own competition is the right thing, but the bit I found interesting was just that they were building a pod as well as the track, putting even more skin in the metaphorical game. I've had projects before where I came up with an interesting idea but dismissed it as too costly (in time or money or what have you), but it stuck in my head. So then, well maybe I'll just do a…

Elon Musk doesn't have the time to learn civil engineering, property development, let alone the politics surrounding it.

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#13

Post by moey » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:32 PM UTC

"Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk is affiliated with any Hyperloop companies. While we are not developing a commercial Hyperloop ourselves, we are interested in helping to accelerate development of a functional Hyperloop prototype."

I thought Elon wanted to create the Hyperloop. Here I was thinking I would see it in the next 5-10 years :(

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#14

Post by toomuchtodo » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:33 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #10

toomuchtodo wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Now if only I had an idea that had this much interest... Or perhaps, more importantly, the resources to bootstrap the ideas.. > By the way, what kind of business strategy is this called? Patronage or philanthropy, depending on how you see it. It's okay for DARPA to do grand challenges, but not Musk portfolio companies?

Don't forget the track record to get people interested in your ideas. If just about anybody besides Elon Musk had proposed hyperloop, nobody would have paid attention, but when it's a guy who runs a company that routinely puts stuff into space on their own rockets, and runs another company that went from zero to "best car in the world" (in the opinion of many serious car folks) in under a decade, people naturally pay…

> Don't forget the track record to get people interested in your ideas. If just about anybody besides Elon Musk had proposed hyperloop, nobody would have paid attention, but when it's a guy who runs a company that routinely puts stuff into space on their own rockets, and runs another company that went from zero to "best car in the world" (in the opinion of many serious car folks) in under a decade, people naturally pay more attention.

This is huge, and should not be discounted.

“I think most of us would have followed him into the gates of hell carrying suntan oil after that. It was the most impressive display of leadership that I have ever witnessed.”

[1] http://waitbutwhy.com/2015/05/elon-musk-the-worlds-raddest-m...

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#15

Post by zacharypinter » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:34 PM UTC

Very cool announcement.

It strikes me that this is a pretty good insurance policy against a poor implementation of Hyperloop being used as an argument against its feasibility. SpaceX/Musk gets to put out a proof of concept track and pod without committing to building the full thing themselves.

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#16

Post by toomuchtodo » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:35 PM UTC

kiba wrote: post #12

dtparr wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree SpaceX recusing itself from winning its own competition is the right thing, but the bit I found interesting was just that they were building a pod as well as the track, putting even more skin in the metaphorical game. I've had projects before where I came up with an interesting idea but dismissed it as too costly (in time or money or what have you), but it stuck in my head. So then, well maybe I'll just do a…

Elon Musk doesn't have the time to learn civil engineering, property development, let alone the politics surrounding it.

After Elon said "fuck it" and built his own rocket motors after getting screwed by the Russians, I don't see him wasting any time with politics or property development (who I'd argue would be leeches/vultures trying to extract their tax on the project).

He's just commission 2-4 TBMs (tunnel boring machines, about ~$20MM/each), drop them in the ground, and have them start digging hyperloop tunnels.

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#17

Post by databound » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:36 PM UTC

It's funny they are building a 1 mile test track but don't have any interest in running with the idea... seems pretty committed at this point.

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#18

Post by dtparr » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:36 PM UTC

moey wrote: post #13

"Neither SpaceX nor Elon Musk is affiliated with any Hyperloop companies. While we are not developing a commercial Hyperloop ourselves, we are interested in helping to accelerate development of a functional Hyperloop prototype." I thought Elon wanted to create the Hyperloop. Here I was thinking I would see it in the next 5-10 years :(

I think he wants it to be created by someone, but my recollection is that when he announced the plans he specifically said he didn't have time to do it himself and wanted others to take the ball and run with it.

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#19

Post by fitzwatermellow » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:36 PM UTC

They plan on releasing the full requirements for the final design in Aug, but the rules document includes some example technical questions. Most calculations I imagine can be estimated using college physics and mechanics: drag coefficient, pneumatic pressure, heat flux, etc. But I'm curious if anyone has any references specific to air compresser propulsion systems? I'm thinking it would make a nice WebGL simulation that shows the relationship between speed and heat generated ;)

Re: SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition

#20

Post by lisper » Mon, Jun 15, 2015, 4:44 PM UTC

> SpaceX will construct a one-mile test track adjacent to our Hawthorne, California headquarters

I'm not sure which would be the more remarkable achievement, getting the Hyperloop working, or obtaining the real estate to build a mile-long test track in Hawthorne.