OK, this is just weird. I can just imagine how devastating the down draft would be to anything even close to the rail line. Somehow I doubt that this idea will ‘fly’.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ON1j2TJCoQU
Dave
What fun it would be to control in a cross wind.[banghead]
At least someone had fun putting the clip together.
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
seems overly expensive and complex. Presumably the complexity and weight of hover is more efficient than the drag across rails.
The comforts/luxuries may make sense for longer distances, at a price, but for more local commutes, I’d prefer smaller trains more often at less cost.
this reminds me of a proposal for a large aircraft designed to carry large loads across oceans. The aircraft flies in ground effect, less than wingspan height above water where there is less aerodynamic drag than at conventional heights. The advantage is higher speeds moving more cargo more efficiently.
Yes!
The russian Ekranoplan, ground effect design, is much more fuel efficient and secure than regular air traffic.
It is more or less a low flying boat…
I’d sure miss signal bridges and catenary… I guess Moffat tunnel is out, too! [swg]
Ed
The concept is great but the teather is the weak spot in the design, would not be possible to control except in calm weather.
I’m not sure if this can vent be comsidered a train, though. It seems more like a balloon on a string than anything else.
Looked like a giant kite to me.
I thought you were referring to Warren Buffett’s apparent desire to add CSX to BNSF as a Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary, and CP’s vain (so far) attempt to swallow NS.
Why have it tethered to a track? why have the track at all? This was not well thought out.
Looks to me like the green arms on the side of the “truck” pick up power from the copper colored rail underneath.
I’m not sure why it needs wheels though.
Agreed. If it can achieve that altitude on, presumably, hover fans it would make more sense to simply have a wide, clear right-of-way, with man-made infrastructure only at places where passengers/cargo are loaded or discharged. On the down side, that right-of-way would have to be three or four times the width of the blower-borne monster, and would be effectively useless for most other purposes.
In addition to the man-made windstorm with every passing vehicle, I doubt that this thing could be made quiet enough to satisfy nearby residents (or legal requirements.)
For passenger movement, maglev is available and worlds more efficient. As for freight, how would this thing adapt to intermodal? (Maglev can adapt to intermodal, if anyone is willing to pay the cost.)
Chuck (occasional SF author)
This is little more than a blown up quad copter with what amounts to a short extension cord instead of being battery powered with all the limitations that implies. It’s certainly not a hovercraft as it “flies” too high for ground effect to be of any use. The animation is neat, but the concept is totally impractical. The thing makes about as much engineering sense as an “Imperial Walker” in Star Wars. Not to mention energy weapons that make the same motion as a 40mm anti-aircraft gun in WWII (aka a pom-pom) even though there would be no recoil.
EDIT: Pom-pom in action https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KsXYK_CNoQ
A TGV can outrun it and requires a much smaller right of way foot print.
Andre
You’re presupposing that the energy weapon system is recoilless and that the cycling is because of recoil. They’re not lasers, so whatever they’re firing must have mass. If is, say, a plasma jacketed in some sort of magnetic field, there would be recoil. Or it could just be a function of the actual weapon system. The firing mechanism could be a capacitor discharging and for whatever reason it has to cycle back to physically connect to recharge the capacitor before firing again.
You’re presupposing that the energy weapon system is recoilless and that the cycling is because of recoil. They’re not lasers, so whatever they’re firing must have mass. If is, say, a plasma jacketed in some sort of magnetic field, there would be recoil. Or it could just be a function of the actual weapon system. The firing mechanism could be a capacitor discharging and for whatever reason it has to cycle back to physically connect to recharge the capacitor before firing again.
As much fun as it would be to argue about this, it’s way off topic for this forum and I’m sorry I mentioned it.
Andre
Holy Cow! The noise from that thing would affect a far larger area than the down blast of the fans ever could.
Yep. And wait’ll one of those rotors fails, sending giant blades smashing through the cabin full of people.
Totally unrealistic video! Notice how thin, young and white everyone was? Now think of every plane, Amtrack, bus or subway you’ve ever been on.
(Snark? Me?)
It’s Europe, not the land of high fructose corn syrp [:P]
Also, all I can think of is “Thunderbirds are go!”
If it is Europe, where are they going to find land for a right-of-way?
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I believe the video originated in Russia, which would explain the exclusively caucasion figures.
The point about the damage a loose blade would do is scarey.
Dave