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Advantages and Disadvantages of Hyperloop in SaudiArabia

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Introduction

The idea has a deep history and it dates back centuries but it could not become successful

for various reasons such as lack of resources and research on this technology. Elon Musk

was the first person for revealing this idea and he stated that he was thinking of the fifth

mode of transportation named as Hyperloop in July 2012. He mentioned this idea at the

PandoDaily event in Santa Monica, California. He suggested that his proposed model

would have various characteristics such as weather immunity, resistance from a collision,

low power consumption, high speed (twice the speed of planes), and it could store energy

for performing its various operations for minimum of 24 hours. He named it as

Hyperloop because the capsule vehicle would move in a loop (Dr. Josef Doppelbauer,

2020).

In the same manner, Musk states that this mode of transportation would move near the

speed of sound. Moreover, Must link Hyperloop with a contrast between a railgun, an air

hockey table, and a Concorde in 2013. The role of MIT Hyperloop is the most significant

in its history. It presented the most suitable Hyperloop model that would use

electrodynamic suspension for elevating the Hyperloop capsule and current edgy braking

system. The model was moved to the MIT museum on 13 May 2016.

Phase one of the Hyperloop competition took place on January 29, 2017. MIT Hyperloop

team presented the first-ever low-pressure Hyperloop model in the world. However, the

Hyperloop team from Delft University Netherland won the first prize of the fastest

Hyperloop design in this competition. Likewise, team WARR from the Technical

University of Munich (TUM) won the award of the fastest pod in this competition.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) came third in this competition according to

the judgment of SpaceX engineers.

What is Hyperloop?

Hyperloop is an innovative and advanced mode of transportation that moves people and

freight from one place to another quickly and safely. It moves people and freight from

their origin to destination on demand or it can move them directly from their origin to

their destination. Hyperloop has a low-pressure tube and its transports people and

luggage from one place to another once they load in a Hyperloop vehicle. The primary

advantage of this vehicle is that it accelerates slowly but smoothly to keep people and

freight safe. The essence of the concept behind Hyperloop technology is a high-speed

transportation system for moving people and freight through special pods. The technology

uses a low-pressure tube in this context in which highly accelerated pods move from one

place to another (Jia, 2019).

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The primary aim of Hyperloop is to increase speed of transportation near to the speed of

sound. Hyperloop came into existence by the joint venture of Tesla and SpaceX.

Hyperloop offers pods that are free from friction and air resistance. These pods increase

the speed of vessel moving in these tubes near to the speed of sound and it makes it

possible for the Hyperloop vehicle to reach its destination under ideal conditions in which

there is not friction offered by the air.

Working of Hyperloop

Hyperloop Alpha was the first concept in this regard published in August 2013 that

included a proposal for developing a Hyperloop route running from Los Angeles to San

Francisco Bay Area. The calculations suggests that Hyperloop would carry passengers at

350 miles or 560Km at a speed of 1200Km/h or 760 miles using 35 minutes. It is faster

than present railway system. Must proposed that this project would cost US$6 billion for

making a passenger version. In the same manner, he proposed that it would cost around

US$7.5 billion for developing a Hyperloop of larger diameter for moving people and

vehicles simultaneously (Nicol, 2018).

However, this technology is under research and various new companies along with

student-led teams are working on Hyperloop technology for improving it as SpaceX and

Tesla have outsourced this idea.

Advantages of Hyperloop

Hyperloop has various advantages that are making this technology significant and

popular. The study highlights some of the most significant and the most prominent

advantages of Hyperloop in detail.

Fast and Efficient

The most significant advantage of Hyperloop is that it is faster mode of transportation.

Hyperloop is faster than a plane and a railway network. The average speed of Hyperloop

is 970 Km/h and the top speed of Hyperloop is 1200Km/h. In the same manner, it is

efficient mode of transportation with its output more than other modes of

transportation (bbc.com, 2019).

Cheap Operation

Another significant advantage of Hyperloop is that it is a cheaper mode of transportation

compared to the other modes of transportation and the primary reason behind this fact is

that Hyperloop uses induction motors along with axial compressors for moving

Hyperloop capsule while other modes of transportation use various types of fuels that are

expensive.

Use Solar Power

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The primary advantage of Hyperloop is that it is sustainable and environment friendly

mode of transportation. It uses solar energy that is renewable source of energy for its

operations. It means that it does not uses other fuels that are the primary sources of

pollution (futureforall.org, 2017).

Protected Hyperloop Tubes

Another significant advantage is that Hyperloop tubes are highly protected from various

things or objects such as poor weather conditions, objects, and birds. However, railway

tracks and other modes such as roads are not protected from these elements and they can

cause various accidents as well.

Lower Human Life Risk

One of the most significant advantage of Hyperloop is that it lowers the risk of human life

from accidents and other such events. The primary reason behind this fact is that

Hyperloop tubes are highly protected and these tubes are safe from accidents and other

such things. Moreover, Hyperloop is fully automated system that reduces chances of

accidents and makes it the safest mode of transportation.

Freight Cost and Time Reduction

Another important advantage of Hyperloop is that it reduces time for moving freight from

one place to another. It not only saves time but it also reduces cost in

movement (rfwireless-world.com, 2020).

Disadvantages of Hyperloop

Hyperloop has various disadvantages as well along with its numerous advantages. The

study highlights some of the most significant and the most prominent disadvantages of

Hyperloop in this regard.

High Development and Construction Cost

The most prominent disadvantage of Hyperloop is that it has high cost of construction

and development as compared to the other modes of transportation.

Vulnerable to Earthquakes, Terror Attacks, and Power Outrage

Hyperloop can face serious challenges such as earthquakes and power outrage. It operates

on induction motors and a minor fault in induction motors and axial compressors can

make it difficult for Hyperloop to become successful (Dr. Josef Doppelbauer, 2020).

Vibrations and Jostling

Another major issue faced by Hyperloop is vibrations and jostling. The primary reason

behind this fact is that high speed of Hyperloop can result into jostling and vibrations and

it can cause serious issues like track damage and other such things.

Unproven Technology

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Hyperloop is an unproven technology with various limitation and challenges. The most

significant thing in this regard is that the technology is not proven. It is the primary

reason that most of the nations are not investing in Hyperloop due to its various

limitations and challenges.

Dizziness in Passengers

Another significant disadvantage of Hyperloop is that it causes dizziness in passengers.

The major issue in this regard is that the capsule of Hyperloop moves with the speed of

sound and passengers can feel dizziness at this high speed.

High Initial Cost

Initial cost of investment for Hyperloop is very high as compared to the other modes of

transportation. The primary reason behind this fact is that the cost of basic infrastructure

for Hyperloop is very high and most of the nations cannot afford it.

No Solution for Accidents

One of the major limitation of Hyperloop is that this technology has no answer for

accidents and malfunction of equipment. The major issue is that there are no service

stations and other such garages that can repair Hyperloop parts. Moreover, no accident

control system is present for Hyperloop (Muoio, 2016).

Less Movable Space

The capsule size is highly aerodynamic and it has less space for passengers to move. It

means that they are not comfortable in this capsule and they can face various issues such

as tiredness in long journeys.

Pressurization of Tube

Tube pressurization is another significant issue of Hyperloop. High pressure of tube can

result into an un control situation for the capsule and it can result into serious accidents.

Hyperloop in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has announced to build its first Hyperloop track and the ministry of

transportation of Saudi Arabia has signed a contract with Virgin’s Hyperloop One

Company in this regard. This Hyperloop would provide 10 times more speed than the

speed of the current rail system in the country. Saudi Arabia is going to build its first

Hyperloop track from Riyadh to Jeddah and it would cover this distance in 76

minutes (bbc.com, 2019). However, the previous or the current rail system is covering this

distance in 10 hours. In the same manner, the Saudi government is planning to develop a

Hyperloop track from Jeddah to Madina and Makkah as well after the success of its first

Hyperloop system for reducing travel time for the pilgrims of Hajj.

Conclusion

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Summary

To summarize this business assignment, Hyperloop is the fifth mode of transportation

and it is the fastest mode of transportation with an average speed of 960 Km/h and the

fastest speed of 1200Km/h. The essence of this technology is to move a Hyperloop vehicle

with the speed of sound. Tesla and SpaceX are working at this technology collectively and

they have outsourced this project for student led teams and other companies as well. The

study highlights the major advantage and disadvantages of this technology in detail. It is

evident from the report that the advantages of this technology are more than its

disadvantages. In the same manner, the study discusses Hyperloop in Saudi Arabia. The

country is going to develop its first track from Jeddah to Riyadh and it has signed a

contract with Virgin’s One Company in this regard. It would reduce the travel time

between Jeddah to Riyadh to 76 minutes from 10 hours.

Recommendations

The study recommends SpaceX and Tesla to complete the final tests of Hyperloop

technology to overcome its major and minor limitations. In the same manner, the study

suggests new researchers to investigate the major working principles of Hyperloop, as it is

an emerging subject and a latest and an innovative technology.

Future of Hyperloop

Hyperloop has a bright future owing its multiple advantages. Most of the developed

nations like the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Netherland are working

on this technology. Moreover, Tesla and SpaceX have outsourced this technology with a

primary aim to improve its defects for its commercialization. Various other nations are

showing interest in this technology that is good for its scope.

References

bbc.com. (2019, July 24). bbc.com. Retrieved from www.bbc.com:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49096675

Dr. Josef Doppelbauer, V. (2020). Hyperloop – an Innovation for Global Transportation?

11.

futureforall.org. (2017, November 7). futureforall.org. Retrieved from

www.futureforall.org: https://www.futureforall.org/2017/november/virgin-hyperloop-

one.html

Jia, P. Z. (2019). Consumer Desirability of the Proposed Hyperloop. UC Santa Barbara,

63.

Muoio, D. (2016, September 30). businessinsider.com. Retrieved from

www.businessinsider.com: https://www.businessinsider.com/hyperloop-advantages-

over-bullet-trains-2015-9

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Nicol, W. (2018, December 27). digitaltrends.com. Retrieved from

www.digitaltrends.com: https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/what-is-the-

hyperloop/

rfwireless-world.com. (2020). rfwireless-world.com. Retrieved from www.rfwireless-

world.com: https://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/Advantages-and-

Disadvantages-of-Hyperloop-Technology.html