Hyperloop is a project drawn up by SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk in 2012 based on years of research , patents , and concepts dating back to the 1930s . The idea is that pods with train-like interiors would travel at extremely high speeds in tubes linking major cities together - slashing existing commute times . If successfully constructed , Musk ( amongst other entrepreneurs now investing in the Hyperloop system ) hopes that it will radically modernise transport in a manner not seen for generations .
Photo by Martin Jaros
Photo by SpaceX
Musk ’ s hyperloop concept works by removing the two principal forces that slow traditional transport methods down : drag and friction . These forces could be eliminated by creating a vacuum in the tube where the pods would travel , and the use of a Maglev system ( where dipoles interact with each other ’ s magnetic fields causing repulsion ) which could allow the train to hover within the tunnel . The removal of these slowing forces allows the hyperloop pods to travel at speeds of up to 600mph . It is hoped that the system will replace existing transport methods as it has both the speed of planes and convenience of trains .
In everyday life , hyperloops ’ high speeds and low costs will enable workers to live further away from their jobs , potentially living in one city with their family and friends while maintaining their dream job in another . As this revolutionary mode of transport spreads to more locations , linking up smaller towns and larger cities , it will also increase the accessibility of inexpensive living in the countryside to those who currently are trapped within the unaffordable city centre by making once laughable commutes possible . This w i l l b o o s t p r o d u c t i v i t y , r e d u c e unemployment and lead to greater revenues and higher GDP ’ s .