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If I take your first paragraph and replace Hyperloop with Space X, it sounds like something one could have said back when that started. Yet here we are. I'm no

• ubernostrum 10y ago
  SpaceX's success is largely due to not having to perform all the hard R&D of rocketry up-front. They got that done for them, for free, by major governments in the 50s and 60s. So now SpaceX can simply build off that, making evolutionary rather than revolutionary changes to the technology and turning it into a profitable business. But Hyperloop is unexplored territory. There isn't billions/trillions of fundamental R&D already done and given away for free by somebody else. I suspect that's going to have an impact.
  • Retric 10y ago
    Hyperloop can leverage trillion in highly relevant fundamental R&D also. For example aircraft already operate at low enough external pressure to quickly kill the passengers ex: concord was under 1/20th ATM. Yet, loss of cabin pressure is a very rare situation. There is a lot of proven technology to maintain low vacuum cheaply, as a first step to achieving high vacuum. Massively improved battery technology enables reasonably high energy density's which are very much necessary. etc. Now, sure there is a lot of new tech that would be needed. But, less than you might think.