Page 123 - How It Works - Book Of Amazing Answers To Curious Questions, Volume 05-15

Transport

Personal

helicopters

Traffic is swelling on roads around the world and in Brazil the
wealthy are looking to avoid this altogether – by taking to the
skies in personal helicopters. As such, novel designs such as the
Volocopter are becoming increasingly popular among the
urban elite. Key to the success of vehicles like the manned
Volocopter, which can carry up to two passengers at a time, is
that they are capable of a vertical take-off or landing, making it
very useful in tightly packed cities where space is at a premium.
The Volocopter is powered by electric motors, making it quieter
and more environmentally friendly than a conventional
helicopter. The lack of an internal combustion engine also
eliminates the vibrations and the high noise level associated
with helicopters, meaning the Volocopter is much more German company e-volo’s Volocopter is an
electrically powered VTOL aircraft
comfortable for its occupants.

Solar power
The Hyperloop looks set to harness
the Sun’s energy by installing solar Speed
panels along the roof of the tube. The capsules will whiz
through the Hyperloop at a
top speed of about
1,223km/h (760mph) – just
below the speed of sound.

Air compressor
A large compressor fan will
be mounted to the front of
each capsule to help direct
air toward the back and out
of the pod’s path.
Sacramento
San Francisco
California

Fresno

To Las Vegas

Los Angeles
Main route
Journey times from
LA to San Francisco Branches San Diego

Hyperloop 35mins
Car 5hrs 40mins
© Thinkstock; Argodesign
Bus 8 hrs
Train 12 hrs
Flight 1hr 30mins

How It Works 123