Technology today : volume 31 issue 3, Spring 2017.

PDFTech ReportState departments of transportationResearch projectsNewsSerialsPartnershipsTraffic safetyInterviewingLouisianaUnited StatesLouisiana Transportation Research CenterLouisiana Transportation Research CenterUS Transportation CollectionThe future of transportation is in the shape of an enclosed vacuum tube that propels passengers long distances at airplane speeds in a train-like fashion, which is known as the Hyperloop. What seems like something out of the Jetsons is becoming a reality thanks to SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk, his vision, a recent hyperloop competition, and a number of innovative and talented students, including some of Louisiana\u2019s best and brightest. With help from LTRC/DOTD and other sponsors, a team of LSU students recently participated in SpaceX\u2019s Hyperloop competition where universities from across the globe were invited to design and develop a practical, safe, and scalable pod to advance this high-speed transportation technology. The pods are designed to carry goods or people while suspended less than an inch above the ground to resist causing friction while travelling speeds up to 750 mph. Giovanni Sequeira, the LSU Hyperloop team\u2019s communications executive and head of the magnetic levitation subsystem explained, \u201cAfter raising the interest of students in the project, the team decided what systems would be vital for a successful design. The final decision was made by valuing the effectiveness, weight, and cost of incorporating these features.\u201