US 12,091,069 B2
System and method for hyperloop pod protection using braking systems
Yanning Li, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Jerome Hubert Wei, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Los Angeles, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/794,959
Filed by Hyperloop Technologies, Inc., Los Angeles, CA (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 9, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/021579
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/194740, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/993,044, filed on Mar. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0347950 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B61L 23/34 (2006.01); B61H 7/08 (2006.01); B61L 3/16 (2006.01)
CPC B61L 23/34 (2013.01) [B61H 7/083 (2013.01); B61L 3/16 (2013.01); B61L 2210/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A first hyperloop pod configured to perform a braking operation, the first hyperloop pod comprising:
a secondary braking system, the secondary braking system being configured to provide a first braking force;
a transponder communication system;
a line-of-sight system, the line-of-sight system being configured to detect a second hyperloop pod at a line-of-sight distance;
a plurality of power electronic units, the plurality of power electronic units, each having disposed therein a secondary braking system component forming a plurality of secondary braking system components, the plurality of secondary braking system components being managed by the secondary braking system;
a memory; and
a processor, the processor configured to:
detect the second hyperloop pod;
determine a collision margin between the first hyperloop pod and the second hyperloop pod, the collision margin being measured from a nose of the first hyperloop pod to a tail of the second hyperloop pod;
engage the secondary braking system if a safety margin is equal to or greater than the collision margin; and
detect an offline secondary braking system component, the offline secondary braking system component being part of the plurality of secondary braking system components, wherein the engaging of the secondary braking system is performed using an overdrive mode at a second plurality of secondary braking system components, the second plurality of secondary braking system components being online.