If you've been a reader of this blog for a while now, you know that I've talked about the Hyperloop project that a few different companies have been working on. It's a sleek tube that will send pods carrying people from one city to another at a whopping 760 miles per hour (1,220 kilometers and hour). These companies have already become aware of some peoples fear of traveling at this speed, or the claustrophobia that may be involved during their travel, so in order to calm the public down in advance, Hyperloop Transportations technologies (HTT) has released some concept art of what the interior of these pods will look like.
The sleek interior shows off plush leather chairs, and an interior aisle that looks impossible to navigate. I'm assuming that it'll be for emergencies only and that the pod will allow riders to inter in on both side of the capsule. In the above photo, you see what look to be windows, but since the HTT pod will be completely enclosed in a tube, you really wouldn't be able to see anything. What those windows are really are interactive screens that simulate windows. Munich-based company Re'Flekt is working with HTT and will incorporate their motion-capture technology into the screens that will give the rider an "augmented-reality screen that adjusts the window image depending on where you're looking." It will also let you interact with the screen, much like a smartphone or tablet. Here's what Bibop Gresta, the COO of HTT had to say in a press release on their designs for the pods:
“We believe the connection between the rider and the digital environment is a crucial relationship. This competition will help us find that perfect interactive model to keep our riders happy, informed, distracted, and/or relaxed while planning a trip or traveling in one of our capsules. And it will allow businesses to precisely tailor offers, advertising, entertainment, and opportunities to our passengers, creating a truly singular experience.”
HTT also recently announced that the pods are going to be made out of Vibranium. While it may not be as strong as the Vibranium used to make Captain America's shield, it is a newly developed smart-material that is eight times stronger and five times lighter than aluminum. It will also be able to detect and communicate any problems or defects that it finds within itself.
These are just concept ideas of what the pods will look like. HTT does not have a working model for their planned Hyperloop yet, although a competing company called Hyperloop One have already started the test phase of their project. We are still many, many years away from this becoming a reality, but every day brings us a little closer to it actually becoming another means of transportation for people all over the world.
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