The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has inaugurated Europe’s first real-size Hyperloop test track. It allows passengers to travel in a vacuum in a 24 meter long test tube. The passenger capsule is fully certified. Now the research group will primarily investigate propulsion, levitation technology and vacuum behavior.
“The change from model scale to real dimensions and, in particular, Europe’s first passenger test under vacuum conditions are an important milestone for scaling the technology soon and realizing longer test segments,” said project manager Gabriele Semino. “With our system, we can examine in particular the drive, the levitation technology, the behavior of the capsule in a vacuum and safety aspects on a fully-fledged Hyperloop segment.” A maiden voyage took place 14 days ago. Hyperloop technology is intended to enable people and goods to be transported at very high speeds in a tunnel system.
The demonstrator on the Ottobrunn campus consists of three elements. The 24 meter long test track in the form of a concrete tube has a diameter of around four meters and, in addition to a platform, also houses parts of the technology required for the levitation and propulsion of the passenger capsule. The capsule has a fully-fledged interior and can accommodate up to five passengers. The third part of the system is the operations control center, which, in addition to controlling the system, also houses the powerful vacuum pumps. The aim of the project is to build a reference route in several development steps by the end of the decade, on which passengers can be transported at more than 800 km/h. (awm)
2023-07-27 07:00:00
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