Hyperloop is a new mode of transportation that could revolutionize how people and goods move around the world. Invented by Elon Musk in 2013, hyperloop uses magnetic levitation and has the potential to be faster than air travel and far less expensive than high-speed rail.

What is Hyperloop?

Hyperloop is a proposed method of travel that involves low-pressure tubes through which customer capsules are transported at airline speeds for relatively short distances and high-speed rail speeds for longer distances. The key advantages of Hyperloop Technology over other transportation modes are its high speed, low cost to build, and emissions-free electricity propulsion.

Pods or passenger capsules would ride on a cushion of air inside the tubes in near-vacuum conditions and would accelerate to airliner speeds using electric propulsion via magnetic induction motors. Linear induction motors would accelerate the pod to its top speed and then decelerate it upon reaching the destination station. The entire hyperloop system would be fully solar-powered, making it energy efficient and emissions-free.

How Does it Work?

Hyperloop consists of low-pressure tubes mounted on supports a few meters above the ground. Inside the tube, a pod transports passengers or cargo in a comfortable and safe environment. Propulsion mechanisms throughout the tube maintain the pod's position and accelerate it to high speeds.

At each end of the tube are large high-speed vacuum pumps that remove air from the tubes. This creates a low-pressure environment allowing the pods to travel at high speeds with minimal air resistance and friction. Linear electric motors positioned at regular intervals push the pods forward.

Magnetic levitation or maglev technology is utilized to lift the pods off the track, almost entirely eliminating metal-on-metal friction and allowing the transportation capsules to reach terrific speeds. Precise electromagnetic guidance and propulsion will enable current-free travel that is virtually drag-free.

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