Hyperloop suggests hypersonic travel, but in reality, the very name is a diversion away from ET3’s near-vacuum environment version that’s a hypersonic Hyperloop. Hyperloop’s initial design intent was always limited to supersonic status.
ET3 and the latest Hyperloop developments agree that using fans and air hockey bearings is a dead-bad idea… and what about the “rail gun” thing? All disproven and dropped from any serious effort that’s gotten significant traction to date – not to mention using larger bus-like capsules and the idea that it’s a hyperloop train.
In order to move at hypersonic speed – like 4000 Mph, no trains & smaller capsules. Hyperloop One is leading things as there’s talk of smaller capsules and pod caravans that will switch tubes automatically to reach respective destinations. Think Internet for people and things.
Using a low-pressure atmosphere travel path and fans to thrust a hyperloop pod along the route, Elon’s idea simply sandbags the greater potential of vacuum environment travel – it’s essentially a highjacking of a much greater idea that preceded it called ET3 – Evacuated Tube Transportation Technology. So…
Let’s call it HyperloopET3 (HET3) because ET3 at hypersonic 4000 Mph potential doesn’t need to excuse a 750 Mph limitation because of a flawed, inferior design. Atmosphere in the tubes creates drag – a throwback design to the dark ages. Today’s Hyperloop and ET3 go way beyond that and Elon’s original Hyperloop-Alpha presentation.
We”ve heard him explaining away – why Hyperloop can’t exceed the 750 Mph mark, but do we know and understand why? Right before the 57-page Hyperloop-Alpha document appeared on Tesla and Space-X websites, Elon had a visit from Daryl Oster and ET3 principles who weren’t for lack of brilliant ideas, but lacked the funding and authentication to thrust tube transport tech into the spotlight.
Musk’s document did one thing for sure – it thrust HET3 smack into the limelight where it needed to be. We can be thankful for that.
Elon’s top tech talent at Space-X heard Daryl Oster of ET3 present a well-thought-out design that was light years ahead of Elon’s idea… yet, Mr. Musk failed to write a check that would have made history and accelerated the progress of Hyperloop-ET3 technology by 10 years… instead, companies like Virgin Hyperloop-Hyperloop One spent a great deal of time and money discovering what Elon already knew.
That a hypersonic transport system would work best using capsules, magnetic levitation and linear accelerator motors in a near vacuum – space-like environment. Musk knew because his best people had already told him that ET3 was far more elegant and advanced than his speed-diluted 20th century Hyperloop idea. It’s safe to say that most of the Hyperloop efforts have moved on to 21st-century-worthy ideas – thank goodness.
The good news though, despite Elon’s efforts to slow things down – companies such as Hyperloop One have figured it out and are now employing many of the original ideas patented by ET3 as far back as 1999. In addition, by posting and promoting the general idea of traveling in tubes as opposed to riding on rails – has put the entire concept into the spotlight.
For example, when the Hyperloop-Alpha document was first released to the media, that same media was clueless and had nowhere to go but speak with Daryl Oster and Nick Garzilli. Both were on most of the major talking head forums that evening – why? Because there was no one else who could speak intelligently about the topic. The concept was far too new to a surprised and uneducated media not built to address dramatic shifts.
Unfortunately for all the funded efforts to date that have plowed hundreds of $millions in R&D efforts toward the original Hyperloop idea – that’s money and time lost while we continue to wait for Hyperloop’s promiss. It’s nearly 10 years on and the best ideas are beginning to finally take form.
The best example to date with an actual working model is Hyperloop One (Virgin Hyperloop effort). It’s going to be interesting to see the reactions of those efforts when they figure out that Hyperloop’s original concept was more an effort to hijack any real potential. But hey, maybe they just had to learn the hard way? It’s been difficult to watch the hard-knock schooling while knowing we could be so much further ahead by now.
The obvious reason for his textbook magic misdirection is revealed in the beginning of the Alpha document. There it becomes crystal clear that Elon acknowledged ET3 while using psychology that diverted any interest away from that effort. Secondly, within the document, he suggests that flying supersonic planes into space, then landing on the far side of the planet – would be a more economical and better approach. How? You’re still going to have to deal with terminals, layovers, boarding, un-boarding – basically, you’ll have to perform your own gate switching. Not to mention the energy factor and cost.
That suggestion alone tells a lot if you read between the lines. It presents Hyperloop as a slowed down version that can’t compete with his dreams of faster airplanes. By diverting any attention away from ET3’s better approach via labeling it a “failed effort”, that never went anywhere, he effectively manipulated attention to his own idea. Yet, it’s looking like ET3s ideas haven’t failed at all as momentum suggests efforts are embracing the company’s 21st century ideas.
Let’s step back and take a look, put on our thinking caps for a moment to see why this diversionary tactic also contains a flawed set of assumptions…
- First – the presented assumption of the 750 Mph limit is based on a flawed pneumatic design scheme. Pneumatic means there’s still atmosphere in the tube travel pathways. Movement is subject to aerodynamic effects.
- Second – atmosphere is just that… air, whether it’s lower density created by a partial vacuum – some air still remains that keeps the entire design in an aerodynamic state. This is where the limit is created – by design.
- Third – Musk knew of the ET3 design before finishing the Hyperloop-Alpha document – he was aware of the idea of using maglev and linear motors. He was also aware of ET3 patents that suggest using vacuum without atmospheric conditions inside the tubes.
- Fouth – Hey, the guy’s really into space rocket travel and fully understands the efficiencies and characteristics a vacuum travel path affords. There’s no better travel environment we know of because it’s nature’s very own and best design.
- Fifth – Let’s assume that Elon knows the difference and give him his due of being smart – unfortunately though, it appears that he’s used the power of his influence and authentication to both promote Tube Transport Technology while injecting a slowdown via design that renders the technology to shorter trips – then explaining why it will never compete with really fast airplanes. Basically, it’s manipulation and an attempt to control the outcome.
- Sixth – When someone rises to a place of authority or their success places them in a state of being authentic and capable, we don’t usually question them as a culture. We usually jump on board and go with what they say is viable and authentic. That’s on us really… but it’s also fair to say that most don’t know the differences and can become easily misled. It seems more mis-leadership when someone of high profile abuses their privilege and influence because something that’s coming about like ET3 creates a disruption of their ideas or plans. Simply put – conflict of interest.
Also, even though Musk claimed Hyperloop to be his own original idea – there was an effort to reach out to him and Richard Branson by several ET3 participants including myself around the time Elon began to speak of his idea cryptically. He claims he didn’t get the idea from anyone else… but honestly, it seems doubtful that’s true. Tube transportation wouldn’t have been on his radar, he was too involved, engaged and focused as he needed to be with the projects of that time – Space-X and Tesla.
The Hyperloop idea was originally presented by him against the backdrop as a railing against highspeed rail vs something better. Can’t argue there… but if you’re aware of something better, why not jump to that instead of an incremental idea that’s already based on outdated ideas and methods?
Maybe the HSR backdrop was another misdirection to keep attention off of ET3’s more elegant-superior design? Sadly, California along with the federal government continues to promote and drive things in the direction – a deployment of HSR. The cost unfortunately is astronomical for a technology that dates back to the 1800s. Funny thing about this too… relating to our conditioning as a culture is that many are still calling it a Hyperloop Train.
Bottom line here is this: The whole air hockey – air bearing – fan – rail gun thing that was supposed to levitate and move people and things through the tubes has been abandoned by anyone who has put money up toward research and development. These ideas have been solidly disproven by the Virgin Hyperloop effort.
The conclusions are absolute – near vacuum travel environment, maglev and linear motors are the way to go. That’s ET3 with patents awarded starting in 1999 – what Daryl Oster figured out long before Elon Musk had any idea. We should be giving credit to the true inventor instead of crediting an imposter for hijacking another’s brilliant ideas. Yet, when you read about Hyperloop – it’s presented most of the time as Elon Musk’s Hyperloop… completely inaccurate.
So, where do we go from here? What’s the larger promise we should be focusing on and looking at when it comes to the potential promise of HET3 technology? What should U.S. Transport Secretary Pete Buttegieg be thinking about and focusing on as he moves forward with supporting ideas that have been proven – yet are now outdated?
A hint, Europe and much of the world, including China, India and the Middle East have serious effort and initiatives for developing Hyperloop technologies. Euorpe has gone as far as beginning to set standards for networks… they’re serious. They’ve also been there, done that when it comes to rail and HSR application and use. Why should or would the U.S. invest in technology that’s now being left behind for better?
Where do these ideas come from? Here’s a list of words and phrases, commonly used search terms that summarize what people seem to believe and think about Hyperloop: Hyperloop Train, Elon Musk Hyperloop, Hyperloop speed, Hyperloop cost, Elon Musk Hyperloop speed, Hyperloop one, Virgin Hyperloop stock, Elon Musk Hyperloop update… not to mention The Boring Company.
Then there are the questions: Why did Elon Musk stop the Hyperloop? Is Elon Musk still working on Hyperloop? What is the current status of the Hyperloop? When Hyperloop will start in world? At least the last two seem more relevant to the topic. The “when” question is the one everyone wants to know!
There’s a lot of mention of Elon Musk, but I have to ask why? Why when the ideas that are now moving forward are honestly a lot better and in line with what we should be expecting and getting from a properly designed and built hypersonic tube transportation system?
See you in the next segment!