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Sustainability Times
2 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Elon Musk Left in the Dust': China Crushes U.S. Dreams by Fixing the Fatal Flaw That Killed the Hyperloop Once and for All
IN A NUTSHELL 🚄 Chinese scientists have developed a solution to reduce turbulence in ultra-high-speed maglev trains, addressing track imperfections. in ultra-high-speed maglev trains, addressing track imperfections. 💡 The innovative system combines AI-powered suspension with electromagnetic actuators for a smoother ride. suspension with electromagnetic actuators for a smoother ride. 🌌 China's vision extends beyond transportation, aiming to leverage maglev technology for future space launches . . 🌍 The advancements could revolutionize global transportation, raising questions about international collaboration and scalability. In recent years, the race to achieve ultra-high-speed transportation has captured the imagination of scientists and engineers worldwide. Among the most ambitious projects is the development of the vacuum-tube maglev train, a concept that promises to revolutionize travel by reaching unparalleled speeds. China's latest advancements in this field have shown promising results, addressing some of the critical challenges that have hindered such projects in the past. This article delves into the groundbreaking work led by Chinese scientists to overcome these obstacles and the potential implications for the future of transportation. Addressing the Turbulence Challenge One of the primary challenges in developing high-speed maglev trains is managing turbulence and vibrations caused by track imperfections. Chinese scientists have recognized that even minor flaws in the track, such as uneven coils or bridge deformations, can lead to severe turbulence inside maglev pods. These vibrations could transform what should be a smooth ride into a jarring experience, particularly in the near-vacuum conditions required for high-speed travel. To tackle this issue, the research team has devised a solution that significantly reduces turbulence intensity. By employing advanced simulation techniques and conducting physical tests with scaled-down models, they discovered that turbulence could be cut nearly in half. This achievement is noteworthy, as it transforms 'extremely severe bumps' into experiences that are 'pronounced, but not unpleasant.' At the heart of this breakthrough is the meticulous study of track irregularities and the vertical bending of bridges. The team, led by Zhao Ming from the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, has made substantial progress in mitigating the resonance that occurs at speeds around 249 mph (400 km/h) and 373 mph (600 km/h). These efforts underscore the importance of addressing infrastructure imperfections to ensure passenger comfort and safety. 'China Finally Sells Record-Breaking Plane': This 130-Foot Giant Can Dump 26,000 Pounds of Water in One Jaw-Dropping Drop Innovative AI-Powered Suspension Systems The integration of artificial intelligence into maglev technology has opened new avenues for improving ride quality. The Chinese team has developed a hybrid suspension system that combines traditional passive air springs with cutting-edge electromagnetic actuators. These actuators are guided by AI, which employs two sophisticated strategies to minimize turbulence. The first strategy, known as 'sky-hook' damping, simulates an invisible stabilizer attached to the sky. This method uses real-time speed data to counteract low-frequency jolts, enhancing passenger comfort. The second strategy involves PID control, a well-established engineering principle that adjusts forces using proportional, integral, and derivative tuning methods. The team optimized this system using NSGA-II, a genetic algorithm that enables the AI to adapt to varying track conditions. Testing with a 1:10 scale model and six-axis motion simulators has yielded impressive results. Vertical vibration intensity was reduced by 45.6 percent, and Sperling Index scores remained comfortably below 2.5, even at high speeds. This achievement demonstrates that the ride is 'more pronounced but not unpleasant,' marking a significant leap forward in maglev technology. 'Old Rockets, New Threat': China Converts Aged Artillery Into Deadly Gliders Designed to Strike Fast-Moving Aerial Targets Beyond Transportation: China's Ambitious Vision China's commitment to advancing maglev technology extends beyond achieving faster travel. The nation views this innovation as a stepping stone to broader technological achievements, including cost-effective space launches. The Datong research facility embodies this vision, with engineers already making strides in developing airtight concrete tunnels and millimeter-precise track joints. While Elon Musk's Hyperloop project faced setbacks and ended its test track program in 2023, China remains undeterred. The Chinese team is optimistic that their hybrid suspension system, once tested at full scale, could revolutionize public transportation and reshape perceptions of high-speed travel. Despite the promising advancements, challenges persist. Scaling the suspension system for real-world use and ensuring its reliability during emergencies are crucial steps that lie ahead. Nevertheless, the progress made thus far demonstrates China's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in transportation technology. China Unleashes Next-Gen EREVs With Jaw-Dropping 870-Mile Range and Hesai LiDAR That Could Redefine Autonomous Driving Forever Charting the Future of High-Speed Travel As the world watches China's pioneering efforts in maglev technology, the implications for global transportation are profound. The potential to travel at speeds previously deemed unimaginable could redefine the way we connect cities and countries. However, achieving such a vision requires overcoming technical hurdles and ensuring passenger safety. The advancements in AI-controlled suspension systems and infrastructure optimization herald a new era in transportation innovation. Yet, questions remain about the scalability and viability of these technologies on a global scale. How will other nations respond to China's progress, and what role will international collaboration play in advancing high-speed travel technology? As we stand on the brink of a transportation revolution, one question lingers: can the world come together to realize the dream of safe, efficient, and ultra-fast travel that transcends boundaries and redefines the future of mobility? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (24)
India.com
3 days ago
- Science
- India.com
Bad news for Elon Musk as China solves 'critical flaw' in his Hyperloop system, Chinese scientists say reduced...
China claims to have fixed a 'critical flaw' in Elon Musk's Hyperloop system. (File) China Maglev Train: Chinese scientists working on the country's futuristic high-speed maglev train project have claimed to have solve a 'critical flaw', in the Hyperloop concept proposed in a 2013 white paper by tech billionaire Elon Musk. A study published in China's peer-reviewed Journal of Railway Science and Engineering noted that the tiniest of imperfections, such as uneven coils or bridge deformations, could cause major turbulence in a Hyperloop system, turning the journey into a hellish ride, even in near-vacuum tunnels. Chinese engineers find method to reduce turbulence However, Chinese engineers working at the world's first full-scale test line in central China, claimed to have found a method to cut the turbulence intensity by nearly a half, reducing 'extremely severe bumps' to 'pronounced, but not unpleasant' levels, according to a report by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). As per the SCMP report, the engineers led by Zhao Ming from the maglev and electromagnetic propulsion division of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), revealed they employed supercomputer simulations and scaled-down prototype tests for the study. The researchers discovered that minor irregularities in the track and electromagnetic resonance, could trigger violent low-frequency vibrations in maglev cars travelling at cruising speeds of 1,000km/h (612mph). Their study used Sperling Index, a 1940s-era international metric for ride comfort, to show that oscillations amplified at specific speeds, reaching 'extremely unpleasant' levels of vibration at a peak speeds 400km/h (249mph). As per the study, the Sterling Index hit a 4.2 when the maglev cars reached the next peak of 600km/h (373mph), but the vibrations reduced to a 3.1 level on the index once the cars reached cruising speeds of 1,000km/h, the report said. China's Maglev train breaks speed record The Maglev system, first proposed in 1910 by American engineer Robert Goddard, gained traction in 2013 after Elon Musk wrote a white paper on the subject. The Maglev train, so named as it uses magnetic levitation (maglev) technology to reach unimaginable speeds, does not need wheels unlike traditional trains. Instead the wheels are replaced with magnets which lift the pods above the track, allowing them to glide effortlessly over the magnetized track. Late last year, China claimed that its Maglev train reached a record-breaking speeding 387mph (over 622 kmph), tumbling the record of Japan's MLX01 Maglev, currently the world's fastest train, which has a top speed of 361mph. Chinese engineers believe that their maglev system will be able to reach hypersonic speeds of over 1,243mph or over 2000 kmph — faster than the speed of sound and double the speed of a Boeing 737 aircraft, once commercial operations begin. If estimates are accurate the maglev system would significantly reduce travel times across China, reaching Wuhan to Beijing in just over 30 minutes, in contrast to the current high-speed train which takes four hours to complete the journey.
The Star
29-05-2025
- Science
- The Star
Elon Musk's Hyperloop has a key flaw. Chinese scientists may have found ‘cure'
Chinese scientists claimed to have solved a critical flaw in the futuristic vision of ultra-high speed ground travel, potentially salvaging vacuum-tube maglev technology and casting new light on the challenges faced by Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept. A study published by China's peer-reviewed Journal of Railway Science and Engineering on May 16 showed that even minor imperfections – such as uneven coils or bridge deformations – would turn a journey into an ordeal, even in near-airless tunnels. But the engineers – who are working at the world's first full-scale test line in central China – also said they found a way to slash turbulence intensity by nearly a half, reducing 'extremely severe bumps' to levels that were 'pronounced, but not unpleasant'. The researchers, led by Zhao Ming from the maglev and electromagnetic propulsion division of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), said they used supercomputer simulations and scaled-down prototype tests for the study. The team found that track irregularities and electromagnetic resonance were enough to trigger violent low-frequency vibrations in maglev cars travelling at the technology's cruising speed of 1,000km/h (612mph). Using the 1940s-era Sperling Index, an international metric for ride comfort, the study showed that oscillations amplified at specific speeds, with a peak at 400km/h (249mph) reaching a level of vibration deemed 'extremely unpleasant'. At the next peak, which occurred when the cars were travelling at 600km/h (373mph), the researchers recorded a Sperling Index of 4.2 – a level at which prolonged exposure to the vibrations would be harmful. According to the paper, once the test cars reached cruising speeds of 1,000km/h, the vibrations lessened to 3.1 on the Sperling Index – defined as 'barely tolerable'. A system that propels magnetically levitated pods through low-pressure tubes at near-supersonic speeds was first proposed by Musk in 2013, in a white paper that captivated engineers around the world. Attempts to develop the Hyperloop concept at a SpaceX test track ended in 2023, after a number of technical hurdles, including the challenge of maintaining vacuum integrity and stabilising pods at extreme velocities. In contrast, China is charging ahead, with the stakes transcending the engineering challenges. Beijing has made ultra-high-speed magnetic levitation tech a national research priority that could not only redefine global transit, but also transform other critical sectors, including the race to achieve low-cost space launches. The test facility in Datong, Shanxi province, represents Beijing's bet that China will dominate the next generation of public transport. To that end, its engineers have achieved airtight concrete, millimetre-precision joints and other hard-won feats. According to the research team, without physical contact between train and track, the system's electromagnetic forces interact with the cabin in unpredictable ways. The result is resonance that would rattle passengers 'with extreme levels of instability'. 'Our research accounted for track irregularities, vertical bending of bridges, and single-frequency excitations induced by lateral irregularities in ground coils,' wrote Zhao and his colleagues. 'Under track excitation at an equivalent speed of 1,000km/h, the car body exhibited peak vibration amplitudes at frequencies of 2.6 Hz, 5.2 Hz, 7.8 Hz, and 10.4 Hz,' they added. To overcome the problem, the Chinese team developed a hybrid suspension system combining passive air springs with electromagnetic actuators that are controlled by artificial intelligence. The electricity-powered actuators adopt two cutting-edge control strategies, the paper said. One is a so-called sky-hook that mimics an imaginary damper linking the cabin to a stationary 'sky', using real-time velocity feedback to neutralise low-frequency jolts. The other strategy, PID control, adjusts suspension forces via proportional, integral, and derivative algorithms, optimised by an NSGA-II genetic AI method to handle variable track conditions. When tested on a 1:10 scale model with six-axis motion simulators, the system reduced vertical vibration intensity, measured as a root mean square acceleration, by 45.6 per cent under realistic track profiles. Sperling Index scores stayed below 2.5 – 'more pronounced but not unpleasant' – across all speeds, according to the study. The researchers said there were still some challenges ahead, such as scaling up the suspension tech for full-sized trains and ensuring that they would work in emergency braking and other extreme conditions.
South China Morning Post
28-05-2025
- Science
- South China Morning Post
Elon Musk's Hyperloop can be ‘extremely unpleasant', China project scientists have ‘cure'
Chinese scientists claimed to have solved a critical flaw in the futuristic vision of ultra-high speed ground travel, potentially salvaging vacuum-tube maglev technology and casting new light on the challenges faced by Elon Musk's Hyperloop concept. A study published by China's peer-reviewed Journal of Railway Science and Engineering on May 16 showed that even minor imperfections – such as uneven coils or bridge deformations – would turn a journey into an ordeal, even in near-airless tunnels. But the engineers – who are working at the world's first full-scale test line in central China – also said they found a way to slash turbulence intensity by nearly a half, reducing 'extremely severe bumps' to levels that were 'pronounced, but not unpleasant'. The researchers, led by Zhao Ming from the maglev and electromagnetic propulsion division of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC), said they used supercomputer simulations and scaled-down prototype tests for the study. The team found that track irregularities and electromagnetic resonance were enough to trigger violent low-frequency vibrations in maglev cars travelling at the technology's cruising speed of 1,000km/h (612mph). Using the 1940s-era Sperling Index, an international metric for ride comfort, the study showed that oscillations amplified at specific speeds, with a peak at 400km/h (249mph) reaching a level of vibration deemed 'extremely unpleasant'.
