|
Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
|
Hardt Hyperloop Fast Transit In A Can
Jeroen Olthof, the deputy responsible for mobility in North Holland, said he had been impressed by the possibility of creating a “compact region” of five European cities in which commuters could travel door-to-door within an hour.
(Hardt Hyperloop)
Swifter than trains, safer than cars and far less damaging to the environment than planes, the Dutch province of North Holland believes the hyperloop might be the future.
Plans are being drawn up for Amsterdam to be connected to other European cities by the futuristic high-speed mode of transportation comprising a magnetic hovertrain in an air-free tube able to travel at speeds of over 600mph due to the lack of friction and drag.
A study carried out by a Dutch technology startup, Hardt Hyperloop, in collaboration with the province, has found the hyperloop could reduce commuting times from Amsterdam to Paris, Brussels, Düsseldorf or Frankfurt from “hours to minutes”, boasting that “borders would, quite literally, become blurred”.
(Futuristic Hardt Hyperloop lobby)
Early science fiction (called "scientifiction") writers loved the idea. In his 1929 classic Through the Air Tunnel, Harl Vincent described the 22nd century version of Elon Musk's Hyperloop idea - he called it the air tunnel:
"You know how the regular air tunnels operate?”
“Not fully. It has always been quite a mystery to
me, but I do know that radio has something to do
with it.”
“Yes it is radio, of a sort. You see the so-called
air tunnels are hollow cylinders of etheric vibrations
projected from point to point in the same manner as
the regular beams over which industrial power is trans-
mitted. In the case of the great transcontinental tunnel
there are twin tubes of these vibrations stretching in
a huge arc from coast to coast, one for eastbound and
the other for westbound traffic. The cars travel within
these cylinders. The vibrations themselves are very
complex in nature. One component provides insulation
against the elements as effectively as though the cars
traversed a solid metal tube. Another provides the
dark color by day and the brilliance by night that warns
standard aircraft of the location of the tubes. Still
another energizes the coils in the cars, which coils
provide the powerful repulsive force that neutralizes
gravity and allows the cars to remain suspended either
when stationary or when in motion. But the method
of propulsion is what makes travel at extremely high
speed impossible.”
"But Jimmy, the trip is made in about six hours.
Surely that is fast enough for anyone.”
“No, dear, it is not fast enough under present traffic
demands. Of course the cars travel much faster than
the standard aircraft but with my scheme they can
be made to operate at five or possibly six times their
present velocity. You see, as it is now, the tubes are
filled with air at atmospheric pressure and the cars
are drawn though this medium by means of motor-
driven propellers as on the standard planes. It is the
friction of this air that makes higher speeds impossible
and it is the removal of the air that was the basis of
my original investigations.”
(the air tunnel, Harl Vincent, 1929)
“You are being a little too technical for me,” laughed
Doris, “but I think I get a fair idea of what you are
talking about. And it really is interesting. How is
the rest of it done?”
“By superimposing certain other frequencies on the
carrier waves that comprise the tunnel walls. These
are the ones I have discovered and am now ready to
put to practical use. The first of these causes almost
complete evacuation of the interior of the tubes so
that the air pressure is negligible. The other is a wave
that provides the new propulsive energy for the cars.
You see, it will no longer be possible to use the propellers, since there will be no air for these to work
on. But my method will draw the cars forward by an
inductive action that is capable of providing tremendous speeds. I am afraid I can not describe it to you
because it can not be explained without going into great
technical detail and that would bore you to extinction.
The important thing is that I have my chance at last.”
“Oh Jimmy, I am so glad,” breathed Doris eyes
shining with pleasure “and I know you will succeed.
I just know it.”
Via the ultra futuristic Hardt Hyperloop and The Guardian.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 4/1/2020)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories -
("
Transportation
")
San Francisco Autobus
'THE autobus turned silently down the wide street...' - Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum, 1938.
Volvo's Autonomous Truck
'They were automatic trucks such as are used for making deliveries...' - Miles J. Breuer, 1932.
Eviation Alice Electric Plane First Flight
'A white electric plane approached at great speed...' - Charles Cloukey, 1930.
Robotaxi By Cruise Premieres in Austin, Texas
'... he settled back in a robotaxi and the brilliant lights of the streets flashed past.' - Joe Gibson, 1953.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Europa Clipper Plate Carries A Special Message
'...a universal cryptogram — yet it is one which can be interpreted by any intelligent creature on any planet in the Solar System!'
Micro-Robots Are Smallest, Fully Functional
'With a whir, the Scarab shot from the concealing shadows of the corner where it had hidden itself.'
AI Enhances Images Your Brain Sees
'I could have sworn the psychomat showed pictures almost as sharp and detailed as reality itself'
Illustrating Classic Heinlein With AI
'Stasis, cold sleep, hibernation, hypothermia, reduced metabolism, call it what you will - the logistics-medicine research teams had found a way to stack people like cordwood and use them when needed.'
Deflector Plasma Screen For Drones ala Star Wars
'If the enemy persists in attacking or even intensifies their power, the density of the plasma in space will suddenly increase, causing it to reflect most of the incoming energy like a mirror.'
DIY Robotic Hand Made After Loss Of Fingers
'I made them... with the fine work of the watchmaker...'
Cheap Drunk Driver Detection From UofM
"Look, I can drive... Start, darn it!"
Can A Human Land A SpaceX Rocket On Its Tail?
'If she starts to roll sideways — blooey! The underjets only hold you up when they’re pointing down, you know.'
Robot Snakes No Longer Stopped By Stairs
'...she dropped her hands from the wheel, took the robot snake from his box.'
Has Turkey Been Stealing Rain From Iran?
Can one country take another's rain?
We Need To Build Anti-Drone Systems For Civilian Spaces
'the real border was defended by ...a swarm of quasi-independent aerostats...'
SensorWake Scent-Based Alarm Clock
'The odalarm awoke Jorj X. McKie with a whiff of lemon.'
AI Worms That Spread
'...there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net now'
Challenges Of Two-Armed Robots
When the left hand knows what the right hand is doing.
FlexRAM Liquid Metal RAM And One Particular SF Movie Robot
'Its lines wavered, flowed, and then painfully reformed.'
Ulm Sleep Pods For The Homeless
'The lid lifted and she crawled inside...'
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
|