The prototype for the first passenger capsule by Hyperloop Transportation Technologies has been revealed.
The capsule, designed to transport people at subsonic speeds, is now ready to be sent to a test track in Toulouse, France.
Hyperloop TT has been locked in a race to produce a viable Hyperloop prototype against lead rival Virgin Hyperloop One.
PriestmanGoode, a UK based company, designed the exteriors and interiors of the capsule which is called Quintero One. It was constructed in Spain by Airtificial (a partnership between Carbure and Inypsa).
Talking to Design Week, Paul Priestman, the chairman of PriestmanGoode explained that “It is a dream project really, to design a new future form of transport. The whole team has enjoyed working on it [..] This is a complete reinvention of that the travel experience will be.”
Quintero One is 32 metres long, has an inner cabin measuring 15 metres and weighs in at 5,000kg. The company did not showcase the interior.
Dirk Ahlborn, co-founder and CEO of HyperloopTT claimed that the pod is constructed from a new composite material called ‘vibranium‘. HyperloopTT claims the new material is smart and can monitor impacts and integrity.
The pod is wrapped into a double skin which means that if it takes damage the cabin is protected by the secondary hull. Allowing them to get to safety without compromising the pressure inside.
The next step is to test the capsule on a specially designed track in Toulouse.
What is Hyperloop Technology?
The Hyperloop is a revolutionary new model of super high-speed transportation that takes a collection of existing technologies and combines them in a unique way.
The system would propel a capsule through magnetic tubes at extremely high speeds and if successful, it could go as fast as 700mph.
This would allow passengers to travel between cities worldwide at speeds only possible now with jet-aircraft.
One of the reasons planes are able to achieve such high speeds is that flying at 35,000 feet means there is just enough air around them to reduce friction (drag) while providing enough oxygen for their engines.
A Hyperloop tunnel would work in a similar way. Creating the same type of atmosphere within Hyperloop tubes.
