A record has been set by Swiss researchers using their environmentally friendly hyperloop technology, which has the potential to dramatically cut travel times over the long term.
Imagine for a moment that you could speed over the terrain in record time, avoiding the lengthy train rides and going from one city to the next in the same amount of time it takes you to pick up a book. Researchers in Switzerland have successfully completed a test run of the technology known as hyperloop, which represents a significant step towards turning this vision become a reality. The hyperloop concept, which was initially proposed by Elon Musk, serves as the foundation for this technology.
It involves extremely fast trains travelling through a tube that is almost completely devoid of air. This reduces the amount of friction and air resistance, which in turn enables remarkable speeds. It is an alliance of partners that is behind the project, and among those partners are Swisspod Technologies and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), both of which are aiming to produce environmentally friendly high-speed trains for the transportation of the future.
Reduces travel time by several hours
A facility in Switzerland that is comprised of a 1:12 scale replica of a full-scale hyperloop system, which is still in the process of being designed, was the location where the record was established. The researchers were able to successfully complete 82 test runs on the test track that was 120 meters in length. During these test runs, they evaluated the technology's capacity as well as its efficiency.
The test capsule, which was given the name LIMITLESS, is said to have achieved a maximum speed of 40.7 kilometres per hour across a distance of 11.8 kilometres during one of the experiments for the project.
In spite of the fact that the pace may appear to be somewhat slow, the developers claim that this is equivalent to a fully functional hyperloop system that is capable of travelling at a speed of 488 km per hour across longer distances.
If the technology is implemented on a large scale, for instance, it will be feasible to go from Geneva to Zurich in just seventeen minutes, which is a huge reduction from the current time of two hours and forty minutes.
According to Denis Tudor, director of Swisspod, "This is an important step towards making hyperloop for passengers a reality and changing the way we connect, work, and live," as is stated in a press release. As a result of its ability to be powered by renewable energy sources and its lower carbon footprint in comparison to conventional trains, automobiles, and aeroplanes, the hyperloop system is regarded as a potentially beneficial and environmentally friendly alternative.