The Hyperloop System and Stakeholders: A Review and Future Directions

Abstract

The hyperloop is an innovative land transport mode for passengers and freight that travels at ultra-high speeds. Lately, different stakeholders have been engaged in the research and development of hyperloop components. The novelty of the hyperloop necessitates certain directions to be followed toward the development and testing of its technological components as well the formation of regulations and planning processes. In this paper, we conduct a comprehensive literature review of hyperloop publications to record the current state of progress of hyperloop components, including the pod, the infrastructure, and the communication system, and identify involved EU stakeholders. Blending this information results in future directions. An online search of English-based publications was performed to finally consider 107 studies on the hyperloop and identify 81 stakeholders in the EU. The analysis shows that the hyperloop-related activities are almost equally distributed between Europe (39%) and Asia (38%), and the majority of EU stakeholders are located in Spain (26%) and Germany (20%), work on the traction of the pod (37%) and the tube (28%), and study impacts including safety (35%), energy (33%), and cost (30%). Existing tube systems and testing facilities for the hyperloop lack full-scale tracks, which creates a hurdle for the testing and development of the hyperloop system. The presented analysis and findings provide a holistic assessment of the hyperloop system and its stakeholders and suggest future directions to develop a successful transport system.

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“…The Hyperloop is considered as a theoretical high-speed ground transportation technology riding on a cushion of air and combining pressurized capsules with reduced pressure tubes [1]. It is designed to connect cities sustainably, efficiently, and safely in a fixed guideway using tube-based infrastructure [2]. In this case, the Hyperloop system is built to reduce energy use travel time and costs while its travel speeds between cities could reach to 1,200 km/hr using electricity being provided by sources of renewable energy [1].…”

“…Second, the axial compressors are to compress air in front of the capsule and bring it out of the back at higher energy, generating thrust [3]. The successful development of the Hyperloop requires a fusion of advanced technologies that is used on transport modes of magnetic levitation, high-speed rail (HSR), and aviation, as well as its integration of safe into the existing transport modes [2].…”

“…First, the capsule or pod includes an aerodynamic fuselage, the electric subsystem, and the interior (e.g seats). Second, the infrastructure of Hyperloop system contains the tube, the stations, and the sub-structure [2]. In this case, the infrastructure depends on the type of propulsion and levitation systems.…”

“…In this case, the infrastructure depends on the type of propulsion and levitation systems. It includes the pressure maintenance system and the power substations (to offer a significant reduction of air drag that will help the capsule to reach its maximum speed of 1,200 km/hr) [2]. The Hyperloop's tube ensures minimum air leakage, as well as it encloses and maintains the environment of low-pressure.…”

Equivalent inductance model for the design analysis of electrodynamic suspension coils for hyperloop

“…Recently, magnetically levitated ultra-high-speed ground transportation, such as Hyperloop, has attracted significant attention worldwide 1 – 6 . Instead of a traditional wheel-rail system that has a speed limit, non-contact magnetic levitation technologies are being used in high-speed transportation systems.…”