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[Aruarian Reflection]

Hyperloop is a futuristic transportation system proposed by Elon Musk using vacuum tubes to travel at >700 miles per hour. SpaceX is not commercially developing the technology but is supporting teams and companies from around the world as well as hosting design and test competitions. This weekend is the first competition at the new SpaceX mile-long test track in Hawthorne, CA. First, teams have to pass a series of open air tests before advancing to the vacuum test track. This is a subscale track so looks like teams are aiming for speeds of 200-300 miles per hour.

Stream for the competition [NOW LIVE!]: http://www.spacex.com/hyperloop

Video of test track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcKZF_QHUJI

Some of the hyperloop pod designs. More here:
http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-hyperloop-competitions-teams-2017-1/

 

[Jigolo]

Awesome

 

[Nollemaster]

That Keto Alpha design looks like something that could have been designed by Bungie for Halo 2.

 

[i-Lo]

Will this take me to Troll Market faster than the Gyre?

 

[thebeeks]

Now this is podracing.

 

[SlipperyFishes]

WipeOut 2017

 

[Aztechnology]

Oh nice. I'll have to check this out later tonight.

 

[Vulcano's assistant]

Why does the 2nd one look like something a toy maker would design rather an engineer?

 

[mrklaw]

is that test track supposed to just look like some random water pipe on the side of the road? Wouldn't you think it'd be more - straight - than that?

And are these using any kind of standard rail system and the competition is just for the engine, or are the entrants providing the full thing?

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

I hope Purdue wins.

Looks like a melted hershey kiss

 

[wwm0nkey]

Keio Alpha has my vote

 

[somecrazymember]

When is it starting?

 

[DrEvil]

When is it starting?

5pm et

Approx 5h45m from this post.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

Stream is live!

 

[Hjod]

I need to go to bed, damn. Would love to watch this, more super trains are needed!

 

[Ether_Snake]

I thought the hyperloop was supposed to have very little room around itself. Surprised to see how much bigger the tunnel is than the pod.

 

[ShadowSwordmaster]

I did not know this was a thing.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

Elon Musk speech coming up!

 

[mrklaw]

Lets just randomly speed tunnelling technology up 10x even though I don't know how tunnelling machines work..

 

[NetMapel]

Y'all wearing shirts and shorts in sunny California meanwhile we need to bundle up here in the north!

 

[Jezbollah]

Given the scale of tunnelling technology used in projects such as Crossrail, I suspect such gains may not be done without some considerable improvements on how to transport debris away from the boring machine.

 

[Reptars Revenge]

Man I had to do research on every contestants pod mechanics for work. MIT should win this but we shall see. This field is blowing up fast. The next wave of them is going to be even more impressive.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

For those just tuning in: looks like they are loading the first test pod, then pulling all the pressure and air out of the test track to make a vacuum, which will take about 30 minutes. Looks like there are just going to be three test runs today if I understood correctly?

 

[i-Lo]

For those just tuning in: looks like there are loading the first test pod, then pulling all the pressure and air out of the test track to make a vacuum, which will take about 30 minutes. Looks like there are just going to be three test runs today if I understood correctly?

Yes, pretty much.

Also, more on the Hyperloop itself for those interested: https://www.badgerloop.com/documents/TubeSpecs.pdf

 

[Vilam]

Why is the test track built half on a road like that?

 

[chaosblade]

Wow, people were assholes. Completely disregarded the interview and camera and started walking and standing in the way, and lady jumped in and started taking pictures.

 

[Tacitus_]

90km/h? So these are student projects but that's slow.

 

[Disxo]

Yup, that was slow,but still quite an achievement.

 

[killer rin]

So I forgot to tune in... whats the ranking of winners?

 

[Disxo]

So I forgot to tune in... whats the ranking of winners?

None of that yet, second test incoming.

 

[killer rin]

None of that yet, second test incoming.

Ah, I thought I had missed it completely. Tuning in now then

 

[SlipperyFishes]

Man I had to do research on every contestants pod mechanics for work. MIT should win this but we shall see. This field is blowing up fast. The next wave of them is going to be even more impressive.

Where do you work? (If it's an article I'd love to read it)

 

[i-Lo]

90km/h? So these are student projects but that's slow.

Lest it be forgotten, IIRC, the length of the loop is around 1.3 Km.

 

[Aztechnology]

90km/h? So these are student projects but that's slow.

It's not a particularly long track, given more time it would speed up considerably.

 

[HelloMeow]

A high school team? That's neat.

 

[Disxo]

Never make fun of the nerd of the class

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

Did VicHyper run already or can I catch them on stream still?

 

[chaosblade]

Delft hit 94-95 quick and only used about half the tube. Wonder how fast they could have gotten if they had used more of it.


Really impressive how well the 6-person high school team did. Got some honorable mentions.

 

[Kickz]

Please get this done by 2020 so I can commute to my Minneapolis job from a warmer climate in the winter

 

[PjotrStroganov]

Delft University: Highest Overall Score; Design and Construction Award

Technical University of Munich (WARR Hyperloop): Fastest Pod Award

MIT: Safety and Reliability Award

University of Maryland (UMD Loop): Performance and Operatons Award

University of Wisconsin-Madison (Team Badgerloop): Pod Innovation Award

rLoop (the only team unaffiliated with a university): Pod Innovation Award

Great to see 'our team' win this event.

Delft hit 94-95 quick and only used about half the tube. Wonder how fast they could have gotten if they had used more of it.


Really impressive how well the 6-person high school team did. Got some honorable mentions.

One of the team members said they only managed to hit 93 and Munich was faster. This was mainly because of the drag caused by the maglev system compared to the conventional rail system of the Germans. TIL that passive magnetic levitation causes more drag than steel wheels. Getting active maglev propulsion to work will negate that problem. Delft also managed to implement their magnetic brake system which enabled them to brake very quickly.