Photonic materials are the ones that emit, detect or manipulate light. These materials play a crucial role in various sectors such as telecommunications, data processing and storage, and solar cells. Because of their vast usage, there is a continuous need to make them efficient. Researchers, at the University of Central Florida (UCF), are developing new photonic materials that could one day enable ultra-fast, light-based computing. Known as topological insulators, the unique materials are like wires that have been turned inside out, meaning they carry the current on the outside while the interiors are insulated.
The researchers believe topological insulators hold importance as they could be used in circuit designs with more processing power without generating heat. This would remove a big problem in today’s devices — overheating.
The UCF researchers have published their findings in the journal Nature Materials. In the study, they have detailed a new approach to create the materials, using the chained, honeycomb lattice design.
Researchers have said the new photonic materials they developed overcome drawbacks of contemporary topological designs, offering more features and control. It also minimises power losses. They have confirmed their findings using advanced imaging techniques and numerical simulations.
The group hopes that their design will lead to a departure from traditional modulation techniques, bringing light-based computing one step closer to reality.
“Bimorphic topological insulators introduce a new paradigm shift in the design of photonic circuitry by enabling secure transport of light packets with minimal losses,” UCF’s postdoctoral researcher and the study’s lead author Georgios Pyrialakos said in a statement.
Researchers added that topological insulators could allow the use of faster photonic computers that use less energy and could also one day lead to quantum computing, thus allowing processing power hundreds of millions of times faster than today’s computers.
The development of new photonic materials plays a vital role in the growth of information technology in the 21st century.
Ethereum, the popular and largely commercialised blockchain, is currently undergoing a software revamp after which, its functioning would be more energy efficient and eco-friendly. Preston Van Loon, a developer working on Ether 2.0, has said that if everything goes according to their current plans, the ‘Merge’ would be ready for launch by August this year. The developers are recoding Ethereum’s mining protocol to ‘Proof-of-Stake’ (PoS) from its current ‘Proof-of-Work’ (PoW) model. The Merge upgrade is reportedly expected to reduce Ethereum’s power consumption by 99 percent.
Speaking at a public event, Van Loon said that Merge is almost ready. It is just a few more trials away from entering the industry.
There is however, the fears of a ‘difficulty bomb’ explosion that could further delay the launch of the Merge, that was initially slated to go live in June.
The “difficulty bomb” refers to the program coded into the Ethereum blockchain that intentionally slows down the network, a report by CoinTelegraph explained.
This feature has been designed to encourage Ethereum’s transition to PoS by increasing difficulty levels for miners so that they lose time for mining on the previous PoW chain after using Merge.
If triggered, this difficulty bomb would need to introduce another update to delay its trigger. This will extend the time for Merge’s launch further.
“As far as we know, if everything goes to plan, August — it just makes sense. If we don’t have to move [the difficulty bomb], let’s do it as soon as we can,” Van Loon added.
Back in April, Merge developers successfully stress-tested the network using a so-called mainnet shadow fork.
At the time, another Ethereum developer Marius Van Der Wijden had called this a “huge success”.
Despite the positive test results, the launch of Merge has faced repeated delays.
The developers are running extensive tests on the Ethereum revamp because decentralised finance (DeFi) apps reportedly worth over $100 billion (roughly Rs. 7,61,110 crore) are supported on the blockchain, and cannot be put in jeopardy.
While the PoS mining operations use randomly selected miners to validate transactions, PoW mining needs a competitive validation method to confirm transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain. Hence, the operations of PoW mining is costlier to maintain.
Like Ethereum, Bitcoin also functions on PoW mining model.
Recently, FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried dismissed Bitcoin as a viable payment network option, blaming its energy-consuming PoW mining model.
Match Group said on Friday that Alphabet’s Google will allow the dating apps maker to offer users a choice in payment systems, eliminating Google’s control over user data.
Match sued Google in May, calling the action a “last resort” to prevent Tinder and its other apps from being booted off the Google Play store for refusing to share up to 30 percent of sales.
The company said it has withdrawn its request for a temporary restraining order against Google after some concessions, including eliminating its complete control over user data.
Match’s lawsuit came against the backdrop of ongoing cases brought by Fortnite maker Epic Games, dozens of US state attorneys general and others in targeting Google’s allegedly anticompetitive conduct related to the Play store.
The development comes almost 10 days after Google rejected an app store monopoly suit filed by Tinder parent Match Group, saying it is a “self-interested” campaign putting money ahead of user safety.
Google’s response came a day after Match filed a lawsuit in federal court in San Francisco accusing the tech titan of abusing control of the Play Store that sells digital content for Android-powered phones.
“This is just a continuation of Match Group’s self-interested campaign to avoid paying for the significant value they receive from the mobile platforms they’ve built their business on,” a Google spokesperson told AFP.
The litigation comes as part of an ongoing battle by Match, Epic Games and others to force Google parent Alphabet and iPhone maker Apple to loosen their grips on their respective app stores.
Match’s filing came after Google modified Play Store rules to require its family of apps to use the Internet giant’s payment system, which collects fees of up to 30 percent on transactions, court paperwork said.
Google has made it clear that it will remove Match apps from the Play Store if they do not comply with the rule, Match said in the filing, which described such punishment as a “death knell.”
“This is a case about the strategic manipulation of markets, broken promises, and abuse of power,” Match said in the suit.
Google countered that Match is free to make its apps available elsewhere online, including on its own website.
While the App Store is the only gateway for content to get onto Apple mobile devices, users of Android-powered smartphones or tablets can download apps at their own risk from online venues other than Google’s Play Store.
Match’s lawsuit contends that despite having options, users get content for Android devices from the Play Store more than 90 percent of the time.
Match apps offered in the Play Store qualify to pay fees of just 15 percent on subscriptions, according to the Google spokesperson.
Elon Musk is due to arrive in Brazil on Friday to discuss “connectivity and protection of the Amazon” with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s government, Communications Minister Fábio Faria announced in a tweet.
Musk’s visit is a boost for Bolsonaro, who has found himself increasingly isolated on the global stage since former US President Donald Trump lost his re-election bid in 2020
The visit by Musk, the SpaceX, and Tesla chief executive who is in talks to buy social network Twitter, comes after he met with Faria in November in Austin, Texas. They spoke about using SpaceX technology to bring the internet to rural schools, and cut back on illegal Amazon deforestation.
Musk is likely to meet with nationalist firebrand Bolsonaro just as his own personal politics drift to the right. On Wednesday, Musk said that he previously voted for Democrats, but he will now vote for Republicans.
“They have become the party of division & hate, so I can no longer support them and will vote Republican,” he tweeted.
Bolsonaro, who celebrated Twitter’s announcement of its acceptance of Musk’s initial bid for the company, has been trying for years to lure Tesla to Brazil.
Musk’s visit was first reported by newspaper O Globo. The event he will attend in an upscale hotel near Sao Paulo will also be attended by several businessmen, including Telecom Italia Chief Executive Pietro Labriola and Banco BTG Pactual Andre Esteves, O Globo said.
Bolsonaro was slow to acknowledge US President Joe Biden’s win and has not yet spoken to the Democrat since he took office, seeing relations between the two largest democracies in the Americas chill.
Bolsonaro, who idolises Trump, has also been shunned for his proximity to Russian President Vladimir Putin due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The North American smartphone market has witnessed a small 4 percent increase in shipments in the first quarter of 2022, as per a report by market research firm Canalys. Apple became the primary driver in this case, which grew 19 percent to achieve a 51 percent market share in Q1 2022, while Samsung secured the second spot. Motorola took third place in this stream, whereas TCL and Google managed to get into the top fourth and fifth positions, respectively during the quarter.
A report from Canalys says that the North American smartphone shipments reached 39 million units in the first quarter of 2022, marking a 3.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth.
Photo Credit: Catalys
Apple was the largest contributor to smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2022 with 19.9 million shipments that helped it achieve a market share of 51 percent, the report states. Samsung shipped 10.5 million units taking the second spot with a market share of 27 percent. The South Korean brand saw a year-on-year growth of just 1 percent.
Motorola took the third spot in terms of smartphone shipments in North America. The company shipped 4 million products and recorded a 56 percent annual growth with a 10 percent market share.
On the other hand, TCL and Google captured the fourth and fifth spots in the North American smartphone shipments market with 4 percent and 3 percent market share, respectively in Q1 2022.
“High inflation places an enormous amount of pressure on carriers in North America as rate increases will be necessary,” said Brian Lynch, Canalys Analyst. “Heavy discounting and high trade-in values are being used to lure in and retain customers for the region’s biggest telcos, easing pressure on the high-end smartphone market. Supply will remain a key bottleneck for the top vendors in the upcoming quarter, but North America will continue to be a priority and is likely to maintain healthy supply levels. The North American market is well placed to avoid any significant volatility in shipments despite the uncertain outlook of its economy,” Lynch further added.
The iPhone 13’s high performance is being considered as the powering background for the Apple’s strong shipment growth in the North American smartphone segment in Q1 2022, according to the report.
Qualcomm on Friday unveiled the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 SoCs as its latest mobile platforms. While the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is an upgrade to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 platform, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is the successor to the Snapdragon 778G SoC. Qualcomm claimed that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is capable of delivering up to 10 percent faster CPU performance and 30 percent improved power efficiency over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, on the other hand, is touted to offer 20 percent faster graphics rendering over its predecessor. Alongside the new mobile platforms, the chipmaker unveiled its Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 availability timeline
However, the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 will be available on phones from companies including Honor, Oppo, and Xiaomi in the second quarter.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 specifications
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 can be clocked up to 3.2GHz that helps deliver as much as 10 percent faster CPU performance over the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 that debuted in December. The new chip carries the same architecture of the existing flagship Snapdragon model, with the same Kryo CPU and Adreno GPU. However, it has a faster clock speed to offer better performance. The San Diego-based company also claims that the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is capable of giving up to 60 additional minutes of gameplay on a single charge.
Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is based on the same architecture of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Photo Credit: Qualcomm
In terms of photography, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has the latest Snapdragon Sight technologies that enable 8K HDR video recording as well as HDR+ support. There is the 18-bit triple ISP under the hood, which is claimed to offer up to 64-megapixel photos.
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 also has the fourth-generation Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System that brings 5G speeds of up to 10Gbps. There is also the Qualcomm FastConnect 6900 System that enables Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6 support. There is also Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity.
Qualcomm has integrated its Snapdragon Sound Technology within the new platform that is claimed to help enable high-resolution music playback, clear voice calls, and superior audio experience while playing games and videos. The proprietary technology also includes Qualcomm apX Lossless sound and LE Audio. This is claimed to enable over 17 hours of longer audio playback.
For on-device artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 has the seventh-generation Qualcomm AI Engine that is touted to enable up to 20 percent better performance per watt than its predecessor. There is also Quick Charge 5 connectivity.
Based on 4nm process technology, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 brings support for LPDD5 RAM with up to 3200MHz frequency and of up to 16GB capacity. It also supports USB 3.1 Type-C connectivity as well as up to 4K display with 60Hz refresh rate or QHD+ screen with up to 144Hz refresh rate.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 specifications
The Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is designed with keeping mobile gaming in mind. The chip includes some of the premium Snapdragon Elite Gaming features, including Adreno Frame Motion Engine that is claimed to be capable of doubling the framerate to upscale content. There is also support for Quad HD+ display.
Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is designed to enhance mobile gaming experiences Photo Credit: Qualcomm
Qualcomm has integrated its Spectra triple ISP within the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 platform that brings support for up to three cameras as well as to take photos with up to 200-megapixel resolution. There is also the seventh-generation Qualcomm AI Engine that brings the Deep Learning Face Detect feature. This is touted to be based on 300 facial landmarks and helps provide accurate autofocus, even when wearing a mask.
The company claims that the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 has up to 30 percent improved AI performance over the Snapdragon 778G SoC that was launched in May last year.
The 4nm process-based Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 is also the first model in the Snapdragon 7 series to carry a Dedicated Trust Management Engine and Android Ready SE to deliver enhanced user security. Further, there is the fourth-generation Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System for faster 5G support. The platform also comes with FastConnect 6900 for Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth v5.3 connectivity. There is also the Snapdragon Sound integration for a jitter-free audio experience, the company said.
Qualcomm’s Wireless AR Smart Viewer
In addition to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, Qualcomm unveiled the Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design to help equipment and design manufacturers bring new augmented reality (AR) glasses. The reference design is based on the Snapdragon XR2 platform and has a 40 percent thinner profile along with a more ergonomically balanced weight distribution over the earlier AR Smart Viewer design that was powered by the Snapdragon XR1 platform.
Qualcomm has brought its Wireless AR Smart Viewer reference design for manufacturers Photo Credit: Qualcomm
Developed by China’s Goertek, the hardware of the Wireless AR Smart Viewer includes dual micro-OLED binocular display that enables 1,920×1,080 resolution per eye and a frame rate of up to 90Hz. The glasses also have a no-motion-blur feature to offer a seamless AR experience, Qualcomm said.
The reference design also includes dual monochrome cameras and one RGB camera to enable six-degrees of freedom (6DoF) head tracking and hand tracking support, along with gesture recognition.
Qualcomm has integrated its FastConnect 6900 to offer Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth support. The reference design is also claimed to have less than three milliseconds of latency between the connected smartphone and its displays.
The design can be paired with Qualcomm’s FastConnect XR Software Suite to offer features including better control and preferential channel access for XR traffic and purpose-built power modes. It weighs 115 grams and has a frame thickness of 15.6mm. There is also a 650mAh battery.
Qualcomm has initially provided its Wireless AR Smart Viewer to select partners, though its wider availability is set to take place in the coming months.
The purpose of bringing the new solution is to bolster the development of AR devices. It will also help Qualcomm to attract manufacturers who are exploring ways to enter the growing metaverse space.
The reference design may also help smartphone vendors and other players in the market to build new devices that would compete against Apple’s rumoured AR glasses.
The human brain is a complex system. It goes to places no one else could and handles multiple tasks that could be difficult for other artificial systems. Due to these functions, human brain has long intrigued scientists who have conducted several studies to understand it. Yet, it is unpredictable. But there’s something else that is remarkable about the human brain — it is incredibly energy-efficient. Scientists are trying to understand it and draw inspiration to make future computer technologies. The experts are focussing on the interconnected neuron function of brain because it holds as well as processes data.
Scientists expect brain-inspired computers would be more energy-efficient than the conventional ones we use today. They also believe that these brain-inspired computers would be better at performing machine learning tasks.
The current focus on the neuron function is seeped into the belief that combining storage and processing in a single electronic component type called a memristor, which will allow scientists to achieve greater efficiency. In conventional computers, data is moved between the processor and the storage – the primary cause of higher energy consumption in machine learning applications.
To do this, the memristor will have to be modified. Researchers at ETH Zurich, the University of Zurich and Empa have combined efforts to develop an innovative concept for memristor to allow it to be used in a far wider range of applications. They have outlined their research in a paper published in the journal Nature Communication.
ETH postdoctoral fellow Rohit John explained in a statement that there are different operation modes for memristors. The conventional memristors had to be configured in only one of these modes. However, the new memristors can easily switch between two operation modes while in use. “These two operation modes are also found in the human brain,” John said.
For the study, the researchers tested 25 of these new memristors and carried out 20,000 measurements with them. However, these electronic devices will need to undergo further optimisation before they can be used in computer technology.
Our wait seems to be nearing its end as NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is in its final stages of completion before being launched to explore the solar system. The Webb team is undertaking the final stages of commissioning the essential instruments aboard the observatory. Technical operations have also begun to test these instruments. The team is running a final test to check how precisely the Webb telescope can find distant stars and galaxies and acquire their images and spectra. The observatory is also equipped to keep a check on satellites, asteroids, and comets in the solar system.
The task of the Webb telescope is to lock its observing tools on the objects that are swiftly moving against a background of stars of our Milky Way galaxy. In order to check the observatory’s capabilities to undertake such complex tasks, the team ran the first test to track a moving object and Webb succeeded in the test. Scientists, now, aim to test different objects, which will move at varying speeds, to test the precision of Webb’s instruments.
Heidi Hammel, Webb’s interdisciplinary scientist for solar system observations, shares, “Webb can detect the faint light of the earliest galaxies, but my team will be observing much closer to home. They will use Webb to unravel some of the mysteries that abound in our own solar system.”
But, isn’t Webb meant to observe the deepest corners of outer space? Do we really need such a powerful tool to study our solar system? The answers lie in a statement by Ms Hammel, “We planetary scientists use telescopes to complement our in situ missions (missions that we send to fly by, orbit, or land on objects). One example of this is how Hubble was used to find the post-Pluto target for the New Horizons mission, Arrokoth. We also use telescopes when we don’t have in situ missions planned — like for the distant ice giants Uranus and Neptune or to make measurements of large populations of objects, such as hundreds of asteroids or Kuiper Belt Objects (small ice worlds beyond the orbits of Neptune, including Pluto) since we can only send missions to just a few of these.”
“Our solar system has far more mysteries than my team had time to solve. Our programs will observe objects across the solar system,” said Hammel.
Her team is planning to observe the giant planets, Saturn‘s rings, the atmosphere of Mars and Kuiper Belt Objects, among other mysteries.
Infinix Note 12 series debuted in India on Friday, comprising the Infinix Note 12 and the Infinix Note 12 Turbo. Both these smartphones pack 5,000mAh batteries that support 33W fast charging. They sport 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED displays with 1,000 nits of peak brightness and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. These Infinix Note 12 series smartphones run on Android-based X OS 10.6. The Infinix Note 12 packs a MediaTek Helio G88 SoC whereas the Note 12 Turbo is powered by a MediaTek Helio G96 chipset.
Infinix Note 12, Note 12 Turbo price in India, availability
The Infinix Note 12 arrive in India priced at Rs. 11,499 for the 4GB RAM + 64GB storage model and Rs. 12,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. It will come in Force Black, Jewel Blue, and Sunset Gold colours. Meanwhile, the Infinix Note 12 Turbo costs Rs. 14,999 for the 8GB RAM + 128GB configuration. This smartphone will offer Force Black, Sapphire Blue, and Snowfall colour options. These Infinix smartphones will be available on Flipkart from May 27 and May 28, respectively.
Infinix Note 12 specifications, features
The Infinix Note 12 had already been launched in various global markets. It sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ display with a 20:9 aspect ratio. This smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 SoC. It runs on Android 11-based X OS 10.6. In terms of optics, this smartphone has a 50-megapixel triple rear camera setup and a 16-megapixel selfie camera housed in a waterdrop-style notch. Its 5.000mAh battery can support 33W flash charging.
In terms of connectivity, this smartphone features 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth, FM radio, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It is 144.43×76.66×7.90mm in dimensions and weighs 184.5 grams.
Infinix Note 12 Turbo specifications, features
The Infinix Note 12 Turbo sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,400 pixels) AMOLED display with 1,000 nits of peak brightness and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. This display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, it packs a MediaTek Helio G96 SoC coupled with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. There is also a dedicated microSD slot that can support up to 512GB of storage. This smartphone runs on Android 12 with the X OS 10.6 skin on top.
For optics, this handset sports a triple rear camera setup with a quad-LED flash. This setup includes a 50-megapixel primary sensor, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and an unspecified AI lens. There is a 16-megapixel selfie camera on the front with a dual-LED flash. These Note 12 Turbo cameras are capable of recording up to 2K resolution videos.
Its 5,000mAh battery can support up to 24 hours of video playback, according to the company. The Infinix Note 12 Turbo measures 76.8×164.57×7.89mm and weighs 185g. It sports a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. This smartphone is feature dual speakers that deliver DTS surround sound.
The Ministry of Railways will collaborate with IIT Madras for the development of an “indigenous” Hyperloop system and will also help set-up a Centre of Excellence for Hyperloop Technologies at the premier institute, officials said Thursday.
In 2017, the then Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had expressed his interest in the Hyperloop technology, saying that India would be keenly watching the project and since then, several rounds of talks over the proposed project had been held between the ministry and US-based Hyperloop One, but nothing substantial emerged.
To usher into a new era of transportation, Indian Railways has come together with @iitmadras to develop a hyperloop technology based transportation system. Indian Railways will extend financial support of Rs. 8.34 cr to IIT Madras for this project. pic.twitter.com/xUoMyxj9QU
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) May 20, 2022
Hyperloop works on a technology that would use magnetic levitation in low-pressure tubes to transport people and goods at airplane-like speeds.
The low energy requirement and the significant role that this technology can play in making India Carbon neutral, makes Hyperloop mode of transportation an attractive proposition for Indian Railways, the ministry said in a statement.
“Ministry of Railways had therefore been looking for potential partners and domain experts for joint collaborative working on development of this emerging and evolving concept for transportation of passengers and cargo.
“The Ministry of Railways was informed that a team comprising 70 students, named “Avishkar Hyperloop”, formed by IIT Madras in 2017, has been applying scalability and frugal engineering concepts for development of Hyperloop based transportation system with an aim is to make India proud by showcasing its technologies to the world,” the statement said.
“Collaboration with IIT Madras for development of an Indigenous Hyperloop system and setting-up of a “Centre of Excellence for Hyperloop Technologies” at IIT Madras,” the Railways said.
The group had finished in top-10 global ranking at the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition-2019 and was the only Asian team to do so. The student team “Avishkar Hyperloop” had also bagged the ‘Most Scalable Design Award’ at the European Hyperloop Week – 2021.
IIT Madras approached Ministry of Railways in March-2022 with a proposal for collaborative working on development of contactless pod prototype and development of first-of-its-kind Hyperloop Test Facility at its Discovery Campus (at Thaiyur). Once established, the proposed facility would offer world’s largest Hyperloop Vacuum Tube that can be used as Test Bed for further research on Hyperloop by Indian Railways.
The institute sought support from the Railways for manufacturing assistance, formulation of safety regulations and access to its electrical testing facilities.
It has also requested for funding support by Ministry of Railways for taking this project ahead. The estimated cost of the Project, as conveyed by IIT Madras, is Rs. 8.34 crore.
The project deliverables for IR would included detailed design documentation for Pod, Tube & Track, detailed testing and performance data for pod prototype and vacuum tube, provide IR with Hyperloop track as a testing platform for development of Pod technology in the interim and provide training to Railway Personnel for Hyperloop technologies.
The institute has also proposed to establish a “Centre of Excellence for Hyperloop Technologies” at IIT Madras through existing CRR (Centre of Railway Research) at IIT Madras.
The existing CRR (Centre of Railway Research) at IIT Madras is located in MSRC building of the institute and has been functioning since 2017 with the funding support from Ministry of Railways.
Five projects are under progress with the existing CRR at IIT Madras and it has been providing training to railway engineers on subjects like Lean Manufacturing, Condition Monitoring and Concrete Testing and analysis. The plan, officials said is to build a 500m tube (diameter 2m) and track capable of supporting various propulsion and levitation system configurations to enable rapid development of pod technology. The tube will be at par with the Virgin Hyperloop facility in USA in terms of functionality but will significantly outperform it in terms of cost, the statement from the Railways said.
The hyperloop concept has been promoted by Elon Musk and SpaceX, and other companies or organizations have been encouraged to collaborate and develop the technology. Virgin Hyperloop conducted the first human trial in November 2020 at its test site in Las Vegas, reaching a top speed of 172km/hr (108mph).
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
