The Boring Company vs Hyperloop Technology

the boring company vs hyperloop technology
Let’s start by asking a question: what is the difference between the two technologies?
Boring can be defined as a process of taking up a single-use, low-cost manufacturing line to reduce its size and cost of production. Boring has the following benefits:
Cost reduction: reduced investment in equipment and labor costs;
Cost savings: increased flexibility to respond to changing market requirements;
Increased productivity and efficiency;
The ability to expand or change capacity at will;
The ability to achieve material stability and longevity;
Ability to produce new products that customers are not currently interested in;
Increased adaptability to changes in demand;
Satisfactory quality control;
Lower chances of errors occurring due to poor design.
Hyperloop can be defined as the next generation technology of transportation using light-speed vacuum tubes to replace traditional high-speed trains. It makes traveling faster, cheaper, and more efficient. Hyperloop does not need expensive infrastructure or specialized skills like diesel train cars. Instead, it can provide a solution to local problems, such as congestion and long-standing traffic jams. For example, London’s Metro underground trains were slowed down to give pedestrians room. Hyperloop will eventually lead to an all-electric city.
The main advantage is its potential for mass industrialization through massive networks, which could cover large parts of the world. Also unlike other forms of transport, such as rail or sea, it doesn’t require huge capital investments. Because it can offer faster, quieter, and safer transport, it allows industries to gain even greater profits.
But it also implies some drawbacks as well. Firstly, this technology uses electricity that would have had a better use in hydroelectric power, instead, people will probably soon have more than enough power for their needs so there won’t be any leftover. Secondly, most countries might have to buy more space on their roads in order to ensure no traffic is stuck between them again, which would mean less valuable land for farming or industry.
The problem is, these technologies are still in the early phases of development but, since they have so much potential, they have led to many successful projects and are expected to become one of the main future fuels in the economy that will be used by billions of dollars every year in just the first twenty or thirty years. So far the hype seems real, everyone claims the same thing to be happening.
For now, there is a lot of confusion regarding whether Boring & Hyperloop will lead to the next revolution in transportation: mass production vs mass consumption. Both offer to make us faster, cheaper, and greener, but what will actually happen? And more importantly, how do we decide who to keep in the loop and what their role is?
What is Boring
Boring can be split into three stages, which are pre-fabrication (fabrication), fabrication, and construction (progress). These stages take place before the final product is produced. The pre-fabrication stage, it refers to the stage where the finished parts are designed and prepared. This stage involves designing the part, determining its characteristics and deciding its purpose in terms of operation and use, selecting suitable materials, preparing its parts, and then cutting a sample from a small piece of fabric. After several iterations, it becomes ready for manufacture and testing. To build and test apart, several layers are needed and several different kinds of machines, ranging from simple hand tools to complicated computers to help analyze data and to generate 3D models.
Pre-fabrication is important because it provides an opportunity to work ahead, in order to get things developed before the start of the project.
In the second stage, fabrication involves transforming parts into finished goods. During this stage, the material is cut into pieces and cut into required components, its properties and functions are determined and then constructed. They can include elements such as fittings, fixtures, pipes, connectors, electrical connections, and electronic circuits. Once completed, the parts are loaded onto a truck and transported to the factory site. This is the third stage and it is where the finished part is assembled and tested, ready for distribution or use. Usually, this stage starts when the part arrives at its manufacturer and ends once it reaches its destination.
The last step, construction, is when the part makes its way into service such as roadways, bridges, schools etc. There are two types of progressions, namely horizontal (upstairs) and vertical (downstairs). Horizontal progressions can be accomplished using machines that go around a vertical plane, called cranes, while vertical progressions involve building the actual structure with heavy pillars.
The advantages of the above-mentioned stages, which are more common than others, are listed below:
They allow quick access without interrupting people’s routines.
They can be manufactured to multiple standards.
They are relatively cheap to set up (no custom software), and easy to operate so that people who can afford the machine can run them.
They can be installed with different power sources and can be used everywhere.
They often bring with them many different items, especially in areas of limited storage.
They usually don’t have major defects such as failure rates that can’t easily be repaired or replaced.
They are very reliable due to their constant maintenance and can handle long hours without breaking down.
Boring vs Hyperloop
Hyperloop refers to systems that use vacuum tubes, rather than moving parts. Since the flow rate cannot be stopped, the system stops moving even if it is moving slowly, creating a seamless movement. As the tube moves at regular intervals, it generates a gravitational field on its sides to maintain the right balance; a rotating magnetic field in the middle of the tube helps determine where the tube should be and how much time should pass. This field guides the movement and controls the timing of each rotation. The whole system works without touching the ground itself, minimizing impacts on objects and the environment.
The advantage is its potential for traveling much further, covering much more land than current alternatives and being able to carry more weight. But it implies a big price increase for users for a few reasons:
Vacuum tubes are incredibly sensitive, meaning they must be kept cold, otherwise, they break down causing considerable damage.
They require huge amounts of energy to maintain temperature, which means they will produce lots of harmful emissions, especially if they’re located close to natural gas or oil fields.
The disadvantages are:
They require plenty of space to store and have an extremely high voltage in their center.
They require high quantities of materials to make parts and make them compatible and functional.
They must be operated very carefully in order not to damage anything and prevent corrosion.
The biggest disadvantage is the complexity, making them hard to understand and learn.
The only advantage is its ability to travel much farther and cover much more land than existing trains. However, this comes with a significant drawback. You don’t really know what is going on under the hood because all you hear is “what it looks like!”. Everything happens in front of your eyes. That’s why experts use simulation systems to make sense of everything. A simulator simulates a person’s body movement. This can be used for medical procedures. Simulation programs are also used to teach students about engineering and other topics. By having a simulated experience, the knowledge gained is transferred to real-life situations. People cannot replicate the full range of motion and feel comfortable performing certain tasks. Not only should people consider the negative impact of this, but they should also be aware of the potential risks that could occur (for example, you may find yourself trapped in a box), as well as the possible hazards. One of my favorites was the NASA Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 2003, which involved astronauts attempting to control the shuttle’s engines while flying into Earth’s atmosphere. When tragedy strikes, people wonder what might happen. How can someone control something so dangerous? With computers, simulations, and complex algorithms, you don’t have to worry about risk management as the program is done after the fact, no matter the outcome.
Hyperloop vs Boring
So, technically both technologies are similar in essence. But they differ in a few aspects:
Hyperloop has to spend a lot of money to produce the necessary hardware, whereas Boring can be made on cheap kits in case of an accident.
Hyperloop requires extra space, while Boring doesn’t, allowing easier transportation.
Hyperloop demands highly skilled workers, while Boring does not, so the jobs are divided, and some of them can be outsourced to foreign businesses which can provide more stable employment.
Many different technological advancements came along in our civilization, and in particular, in the 20th century, so it was not impossible for Boring to reach the level of Hyperloop or have a larger effect on society than Hyperloop can do now. What people would be doing at the moment? We cannot say. If more tests are carried out to prove or disprove concepts, we will continue working on solutions that best fit our lifestyles, values, and concerns. I am sure Hyperloop will take over. Until then, people will be busy trying their best to stay connected and avoid accidents.
Do you think Hyperloop will be the ultimate innovation of human nature? Do you want to see it for yourselves? Feel free to share your thoughts in this comment section and follow me to discover my latest content and insights.