Book a "Ride" on the New Virgin Hyperloop One App
Virgin Hyperloop One, the leading company when it comes to Hyperloop production, released an app today that shows what it would be like to book a ride on the high-speed system.
Hyperloop One partnered with mapping company HERE to develop the concept app, which was revealed at CES on Monday. Although it's just a concept right now, the public can plan on seeing the app in action later this year, according to TechCrunch.
"With hyperloop, passengers will be able to plan, book, and pay for a hyperloop journey as well as other modes of transportation including public, private, and ride-shares using the application," said Matt Jones, SVP of Software Engineering at Hyperloop One.
The app incorporates the ability to book additional transportation, such as a Lyft, and provides seamless, customizable directions to your final destination. A video shows how you can plug in your destination and choose from a series of options based on categories like "sooner, cheaper or greener." Even cooler, it looks like you'll be able to choose what type of hyperloop pod experience you want. For instance, a Silent Work Pod, which is described as the place to "get things done" for those who need a "calm atmosphere to think." Jones hopes the technology will drastically minimize any amount of waiting time.
"In our transportation system that uses intelligent location data, the Portal (where you embark onto your Hyperloop Pod) already knows what time you’re going to arrive as soon as you get into your Lyft. By the time you get there, pod departures will adjust to accommodate the time that you arrive," said Ben Ellis, Hyperloop One's Digital User Experience Manager.
Virgin Hyperloop One's pod recently hit speeds of 240mph and the company hopes to begin construction of a Hyperloop route in 2019. It took on the Virgin title in 2017 and named Richard Branson as its chairman last month.