This is what it might be like to travel in a Hyperloop pod
This video shows how it would look to ride in a windowless pod that is zooming through an airless tube at almost the speed of sound. Image: REUTERS/Eric Thayer
Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale
Stay up to date:
Innovation
What would it be like to ride on the Hyperloop—the 700 mph (1,100 km/h) propulsion-driven transportation of the future?
In the video below from Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, you can see how it would look to ride in a windowless pod that is zooming through an airless tube and carrying passengers at the speed of sound (or really close to it).
Initial impression of the pod ride is that, apart from the superfast speed, it looks like it is going to be pretty…well…boring.
The interiors of the transportation pods show a narrow tube, with an even narrower aisle, crammed with as much seats as possible. Already, people are pointing out that the space is even smaller than typical coach seats on a budget flight.
Don’t expect windows on the pod either—the company is reportedly working with a Munich-based company specializing in virtual and augmented reality that would simulate the scenery that you would be seeing as you travel from point A to point B.
So. You’re not actually seeing any pretty sights. It’s like watching a National Geographic video of Niagara Falls instead of actually seeing Niagara Falls.
Hyperloop Transportation hopes to convince skeptics of the technology, convincing them that it is indeed safe for passengers and will even be made from a new type of carbon fiber called Vibranium that’s supposedly super strong that it’s enough to make pods extra safe.
Of course, you should keep in mind that these images are simply renderings and we have yet to see what the real Hyperloop experience will be like. So their may be hope yet.
Don't miss any update on this topic
Create a free account and access your personalized content collection with our latest publications and analyses.
License and Republishing
World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
Related topics:
The Agenda Weekly
A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails. For more details, review our privacy policy.
More on Fourth Industrial RevolutionSee all
Karla Yee Amezaga, Rafi Lazerson and Manal Siddiqui
October 11, 2024
Richard Dalbello and Mariel Borowitz
October 7, 2024