Future Mass Transportation Technologies

Mike Wongkaew, PhD, PE, SE, PMP

National Tunnel Practice Lead – Northwest

Anthony Bauer, PE

National Tunnel Practice Operations Manager – West

Industry Development

Elon Musk and SpaceX publish the Hyperloop Alpha white paper to solve the problem of ‘soul destroying traffic’.

Hyperloop Technologies, Inc. started in a garage in Los Angeles.

Industry Development

Hyperloop One tests propulsion system & announces $80M

Series B funding round

Industry Development

Hyperloop One unveils Devloop– the world’s first full-scale hyperloop system

Industry Development

The Boring Company is founded and raises $110M of funding

Industry Development

The Boring Company completes the Hawthorn test tunnel

Industry Development

Company Overviews

The Boring Company – Technology Overview

Initial R&D Goal: Tunneling 10x faster & cheaper Core Technologies (2019):

▪ Tunneling Boring Machines− Godot (1st gen)

− Line-storm (2nd gen)

− Prufrock (3rd gen)

▪ Tunnel lining

▪ Tunneling automation

▪ Tunnel spoil reuse

▪ Vehicles− Tesla Model X with guide rails

− Tesla on Autopilot

The Boring Company – Tunnel Spoil Re-Use

▪ “Boring Bricks”

▪ Future source of revenue

▪ Sustainability

Early 2018 Late 2018

Industry Development Note:

▪ Tesla X▪ Car elevator▪ Guide wheels▪ 12’ ID tunnel▪ Portal ventilation duct▪ Tunnel lighting▪ Concrete guiderails▪ Painted tunnel lining▪ Bumpy Ride▪ 30’ auto elevator

Industry Development Note:

▪ 6 months later▪ 1.2 mile “race”▪ ASME B20.1 VRC (elevator)▪ Tunnel lighting▪ No guiderails – Autopilot only▪ Pavement markers▪ Reached 127 mph▪ Smoother ride▪ Ramp exit▪ Big progress over 6 months –

What’s next?

The Boring Company – Other Projects

Las Vegas “Loop”

▪ LV Convention Center Campus

▪ Underground people mover

▪ 3 stations, < 1 mile total length

▪ $48M

Other Projects:

▪ DC to Baltimore (draft EA issued for public comment)

▪ LA Dodger to Existing Metro Red Line Station (EIR preparation)

The Boring

Company raises

another $120M of

funding

The Boring Company – Current Status

Demonstrated:

▪ Cost reduction− Smaller tunnels− Tunnel spoil reuse− Faster tunneling (goal)

▪ Vehicles− EV with guide wheels− Self driving EV visually guided by pavement

markers

▪ Stations− Ramp− ASME B20.1 vertical reciprocating conveyor

(elevator)

▪ Public relations and outreach effort▪ Agile

Upcoming Challenges:

▪ Underground construction− Geology− Complex geometry for spur and tunnel

on/off ramps from mainline

▪ Vehicle control and throughput▪ Tunnel systems▪ Station systems and amenities▪ O&M▪ Fire & life safety▪ Contingencies & emergency preparedness▪ Passenger / revenue services

The Boring Company – Future Growth

Technology

Autonomous Control System

Passive Magnetic Levitation & Guidance

Airtight Fuselage & Life Support System

Low Pressure Guideway

Value Proposition

▪ High Cruising Speed – Up to 670 mph

– 2 to 3 times faster than HSR

– Accelerations less than aircraft takeoff

▪ Point to Point Travel– High speed switching

▪ All Electric– Electric propulsion system

– Can be run on renewable energy

Challenges▪ Safety Certification

– Regulating authority (FRA, FAA?)– NFPA compliance– Autonomous controls system

▪ Technical Challenges– High speed switching– Maintaining vacuum guideway

▪ Funding– Company funding– Project funding

▪ Delivery– Infrastructure delivery

Current Hyperloop Projects

Colorado Front Range

Chicago-Columbus-Pittsburgh

Missouri

Texas TriangleDubai

Saudi Arabia

Mumbai-Pune

Helsinki-Stockholm

Won’t happen in my lifetime!

What does this have to do with tunneling?

I don’t believe in the technology…

Tangent Track

V

g

Circular Curved Track

R

aC

g

θ

𝑎𝐶 =𝑉2

𝑅

Balanced Condition

V

aN

𝑎𝑁 = 𝑎𝑐2 + 𝑔2

𝜃 = tan−1𝑎𝑐𝑔

Turn Radius Limited By Comfort Limit

Commercial aircraft generally perform Half Standard Rate Turns1 whichresult in balanced forces on passengers

Boeing 737 Cruising Speed: 564 mph (490 kTAS)

Balanced Bank Angle, θ: 33.9 deg

Turning Radius, R: 31,685 ft

Centrifugal Acceleration, aC: 0.67g

Normal Acceleration, aN: 1.20g

aC

gaN

For Commercial Aircraft…

Comfort Limit

1. http://www.luizmonteiro.com/Article_Bank_Angle_for_Std_Rate_06.aspx

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Speed, mph

Aircraft High Speed Rail Maglev

Curve Radius vs. Design Speed

Maglev12° Bank,

Balanced Turn

High Speed Rail5.5” Super (5.5° Bank),

Balanced Turn Aircraft, Half Standard Rate Turn (34° Bank)

Balanced Condition

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31° Bank at Daytona International Speedway

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Hyperloop

TBC

30,000 ft

Route Planning Example – Los Angeles

UNIONSTATION

Thank You

Questions?