The Future of Transportation Engineering: The Hyperloop

First proposed by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, the Hyperloop may be the future of passenger and freight transportation between urban centers. If successful, what are the potential implications for professionals involved in transportation engineering?  

A schematic cutaway depiction of a Hyperloop pod and rail systems as envisioned in Elon Musk’s 2013 white paper “Hyperloop Alpha”. Image Credit: Camilo Sanchez via Wikimedia Commons

In 2013, Elon Musk, the visionary CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, proposed a conceptual model for a new form of transportation in response to his disappointment regarding the plans for the California High Speed Rail line linking San Francisco and Los Angeles. He detailed his critique of high-speed rail as well as the advantages, technical specifications, and feasibility of his alternative means moving people and freight in his white paper “Hyperloop Alpha.” Musk’s primary criticisms of California High Speed Rail include that he found that for its $68.4 billion price tag, the train did not offer much in terms of innovation or improvements in energy consumption, speed, travel time, or cost. As an alternative, Musk proposed a system of magnetically levitating pods electrically propelled at speed approaching 700 miles per hour through pressurized tubes connecting urban centers. What goals did Musk outline for Hyperloop? What are the designs of Hyperloop prototypes? How close is Hyperloop to becoming a reality? What are the implications for transportation engineers?

The Goals of Hyperloop Transportation

Overall, the current goals for Hyperloops remain the same as when Elon Musk first outlined them in 2013. A successful Hyperloop transportation system should achieve the following:

• Move people and freight on demand in an immediately accessible location similar to what is now offered by cars and trucks
• The cost to end users should be relatively inexpensive like road and highway transportation is today
• Travel time should be significantly less than that currently provided by road vehicles, air, and rail modes of transportation
• The hyperloop needs to be environmentally friendly similar to rail and electric vehicles
• Hyperloops should require significantly less energy to operate than current modes of transportation.
• Hyperloop transportation should be significantly safer than travel by cars, trains, and airplanes.

So how does the design of a hyperloop achieve these goals?  

The Design of Hyperloop Systems

A 2016 theoretical design of a hyperloop pod. Image Credit: Hyperloop UPV via Wikimedia Commons

While currently pod and tube hyperloop designs differ somewhat, they all share the basic components described by Musk:  

• A pod with a pressurized cabin for the protection and comfort of passengers when traveling at speeds of 670 mph or more
• A magnetic levitation and /or propulsion system, electrically powered. Many prototypes make use of solar energy.  
• Electrified tracks connecting various hubs and urban centers.
• A network of virtually frictionless tubes connecting major cities as well as hubs within urban areas.

For examples of the different Hyperloop prototypes, visit these links:

• Video explainer of Virgin’s Hyperloop One
• Hyperloop Transportation Technologies   
• TransPod’s Take on Hyperloop technology

Making the Hyperloop Concept A Reality

Musk holds periodic competitions to spur engineering teams to develop prototypes of the hyperloop. Image Credit: Okras via Wikimedia Commons

According to experts interviewed in a recent article published on the website Civil and Structural Engineer, the recent tests of various hyperloop prototypes demonstrate the technology exists to bring this innovative form of transportation to fruition. They explain the main obstacles to making hyperloops a reality are funding, establishing standards and regulations for hyperloop systems, and gaining public acceptance. To eradicate the funding issue, public-private partnerships are being established, such as the collaboration among the North Ohio Areawide Coordinating Council, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and numerous private sector businesses as well as public academic institutions. They are exploring the feasibility of building a hyperloop connecting Columbus, Ohio to Chicago. To address establishing regulations and standards, engineers and others are exploring existing guidelines used to regulate autonomous vehicles, airplanes, rail systems, smart streets, and spacecraft. Experts hope that as the public discovers the advantages hyperloop systems provide, people will support this new form of transportation.       

Implications for Transportation Engineers

While some experts estimate the first full hyperloop system will be operational within five years, others view the evolution of hyperloops to follow that of the United States rail system. Regardless of the timeline, transportation engineers are facing the challenge of how to integrate hyperloops into existing highway infrastructure. In addition, city planners and highway engineers will need to develop a plan to transition from an autocentric urban environment to a system of underground tunnels.

How would you meet the challenges anticipated with the introduction of hyperloops into the urban transportation mix?