Elon getting into the tunneling business!
- Thread starter RubberToe
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- Elon Musk Transportation
I would think so, since Elon's tenure in PayPal has generated significant returns and interest... not just monetarily...
I'm a bit doubtful that he can significantly lower the cost of deep boring. It seems like more of a brute force civil engineering problem than a sophisticated high tech one. Still, cheap tunneling would be a huge win for infrastructure IMHO.
AudubonB
One can NOT induce accuracy with precision!
- Mar 24, 2013
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For a quick primer in current state-of-the-art boring, BBC has a small article - Inside the world's longest rail tunnel - showcasing the just-opened longest tunnel, at 35.5 miles, bored with four 31-foot diameter chewers, each about 1,700 feet long - Switzerland's Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Arc-smelting could conceivably create in situ a fine tunnel but I'm not sure where the requisite yottawatts could be found.
Arc-smelting could conceivably create in situ a fine tunnel but I'm not sure where the requisite yottawatts could be found.
tinm
2020 Model S LR+ Owner
I'm just gonna stare at this for a while and bask in the momentary glory of an all-seeing, all-powerful TMC moderator empatically agreeing with me on something. Maybe I should frame it.
Wonder if you put a Falcon 9 sideways and fire it up, would it be hot enough to melt rock?
tga
Supporting Member
Why yes, it did. Thank you all for contributing to making my trip to the airport much easier!
"Yotta" is such a fun prefix. Makes me smile every time.
Angeli, the TBM about to start digging the Regional Connector under L.A., just invited Elon to come have a look at her...
For those not familiar with the L.A. transit system, the Regional Connector is going to be the second underground rail line under downtown. It will be connecting three different light rail lines (Blue Line, Expo Line, Gold Line). The service will then be operated as two new lines. One going East/West, and the other going North/South.
Regional Connector Transit Project
And a zoomed out view showing what the future E/W and N/S lines will look like. There will be 5 total stations that will be on both lines. The 7th/Metro station and Union Station are also both stops on the current subway line.
In a very short time, there will be 3 different active projects tunneling. The Regional Connector, the Crenshaw Line, and the Westside Subway Extension.
For those not familiar with the L.A. transit system, the Regional Connector is going to be the second underground rail line under downtown. It will be connecting three different light rail lines (Blue Line, Expo Line, Gold Line). The service will then be operated as two new lines. One going East/West, and the other going North/South.
Regional Connector Transit Project
And a zoomed out view showing what the future E/W and N/S lines will look like. There will be 5 total stations that will be on both lines. The 7th/Metro station and Union Station are also both stops on the current subway line.
In a very short time, there will be 3 different active projects tunneling. The Regional Connector, the Crenshaw Line, and the Westside Subway Extension.
YoungStranger
Member
Nickjhowe
Member
So at the Hyperloop competition today Elon confirmed what this is all about. Because he's got nothing better to do right now (!), he wants to improve tunneling technology. They are looking for a 500%-1000% improvement in tunneling speed. They have started digging a vertical shaft at the Hawthorn facility. It will be the entry shaft for a TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) . They plan to strip down an existing TBM and improve it. They are going to test new tunneling techniques technology. Elon says they don't have any real plan, they are just "winging it".
Based on other things said, it sounds like the LA Mayor and Mass Transit Authority are in on the plans.
Go figure.
Based on other things said, it sounds like the LA Mayor and Mass Transit Authority are in on the plans.
Go figure.
seems one extension of tunneling business might be building those things:
Floating train at 2000 km/h set to store 10% of Dutch electricity
it really synergetic to what Tesla does: tunneling+renewable energy
Floating train at 2000 km/h set to store 10% of Dutch electricity
it really synergetic to what Tesla does: tunneling+renewable energy
One wonders just how much you reduce the ventilation requirements for underground tunnels...
if you restrict their use to electric cars only.
if you restrict their use to electric cars only.
voyager
Member
jeff_adams
Member
Everything Elon starts has implications on Mars. This is genius like Hyperloop. Once crews start landing on Mars, they will need to build a significant underground habitat that can protect against any type of harsh weather phenomenon. There will not be time to improve the technology when they get there, it needs to start improving right now to be ready for his timetable.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Elon did some research on boring companies and maybe put out some feelers on future innovations and he realized that there was a lack of competition in the marketplace. He's been badly burned in both SpaceX and Tesla with some outsourced parts and labor not able to hit time lines or quality. There are very valid reasons why SpaceX and Tesla build so much of their tech in house. One of the biggest has been suppliers jacking up price once Tesla starts to ramp up production. I see this company as a way for Elon to hedge his bets on mission costs.
I believe that Elon looks through the lens of getting his mission done. He saw this as a potential bottleneck and decided to use the LA traffic as an excuse to push this vital (to him) technology forward. I expect he might start some other companies as well.
I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Elon did some research on boring companies and maybe put out some feelers on future innovations and he realized that there was a lack of competition in the marketplace. He's been badly burned in both SpaceX and Tesla with some outsourced parts and labor not able to hit time lines or quality. There are very valid reasons why SpaceX and Tesla build so much of their tech in house. One of the biggest has been suppliers jacking up price once Tesla starts to ramp up production. I see this company as a way for Elon to hedge his bets on mission costs.
I believe that Elon looks through the lens of getting his mission done. He saw this as a potential bottleneck and decided to use the LA traffic as an excuse to push this vital (to him) technology forward. I expect he might start some other companies as well.
dpeilow
Moderator
MitchMitch
Lurker In Chief
Tunnel Skepticism Runs Deep | Los Angeles Business Journal
While Musk can tunnel underneath SpaceX’s Hawthorne campus without approval from that city, crossing beneath city property or private land would require Boring to go through official channels, a nightmare-inducing process of regulatory approvals, community hearings, property rights acquisition, environmental reviews, and, most likely, litigation, public officials said.
The company would be required to get right-of-way permission from myriad public and private property owners, building permits for elevators that would lift cars from the tunnel to street level, among other approvals, Cole said.
“The level of complexity and permitting and environmental review – and opportunity for environmental litigation – would stretch this out for decades,” he said.
While Musk can tunnel underneath SpaceX’s Hawthorne campus without approval from that city, crossing beneath city property or private land would require Boring to go through official channels, a nightmare-inducing process of regulatory approvals, community hearings, property rights acquisition, environmental reviews, and, most likely, litigation, public officials said.
The company would be required to get right-of-way permission from myriad public and private property owners, building permits for elevators that would lift cars from the tunnel to street level, among other approvals, Cole said.
“The level of complexity and permitting and environmental review – and opportunity for environmental litigation – would stretch this out for decades,” he said.
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