HyperLoop, Automated Freight, Goods Movement and Various Tube Technologies
Links are provided to several descriptions of automated freight movement technologies. Some are operational, some under development and some are still conceptual. Some are above ground, others are underground. Large scale systems thinking on this topic is particularly noteworthy in the Netherlands and Japan. Hyperloop research and development activity is occurring in several countries around the world
HyperLoop activities (high speed tube transport concept)
Link to the dramatic Hyperloop proposal for passenger and freight transportation in partially evacuated tubes
Winners of Hyperloop competition announced by Elon Musk, 1/31/17
Hyperloop Technologies: extensive review of issues and needed solutions, 3-26-17
Other Tube Technologies
See http://www.capsu.org/library/large-diameter.html for an overview of recent, global, activity in this field.
Link to a City Lab article on the future of US freight movement, 10/2014
Volpe report on intermodalism: a 20-year perspective
Link to German Baumer Group - Airport Baggage Handling technology
Link to Cargobeamer website: built and in operation, moving freight from Germany to Italy
Source: Koshi, Masaki, An Automated Underground Tube Network for Urban Goods Transport, IATSS Research, 16:2, 1992
Autran Corporation - a system with carrier vehicles that will carry autos on platforms, passenger cabins and freight containers
Capsule pipelines - link to a website that provides considerable information on this goods movement approach.
CargoCap - innovative transportation system for conveyance of piece goods through pipelines, being developed in Germany. Virtual test system has been constructed and has been in use since 2007. Website include two excellent videos.
CargoRail - one of the new systems being developed by MegaRail Transportation Systems, Inc., described in a product overview. Also available is MegaRail's presentation to the Gateway Council of Governments regarding an application of a CargoRail and CargoTram system to serve the freight movement and air pollution reduction needs of the Port of Long Beach, California, pdf format, 21 pages Also, see the more recent (September '07) Port Operating Plan, 10 pp. Click here for the most recent Cargo Rail presentation (October, 2009) Currently (2013) inactive
CargoTunnel - an underground network concept for goods movement with cities
Evacuated Tube Transportation - link to a website that provides considerable information on this concept - deals with both people and freight.
Frog Navigation Systems - link to a website that describes automated cargo applications of guided vehicles in the Netherlands.
MagneTrak - link to a press release that describes this revolutionary material handling system being developed by MagneMotion and a Swiss company.
Magplane - link to a website that describes a maglev-based pipeline system currently being demonstrated in Florida. An initial project has been
built in Mongolia.Magtube, Inc. - link to a website that describes an evacuated tube concept using maglev for moving freight. See patent for more details.
MegaRail - link to a website that describes an system that includes an automated freight component, called Cargo Rail, being developed in Ft. Worth, Texas.
MonoFreight - link to a YouTube animation of a suspended monorail-type automated container transport system
Pipenet - an innovative system being developed in Italy, website now has a section in English
Pipeline Transportation - an automated freight transportation system that utilizes linear electric motors (author not doing further work but a good reference paper for previous work on this topic).
Last modified: September 06, 2018
