After a year of close collaboration between Virgin Hyperloop, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), and Kilo Design, the Pegasus Pod has become the first manned and fully functional system for Hyperloop travel after a successful test in the Nevada desert.
BIG and Kilo designed for the pod’s first use case while also defining the design language and characteristics for future Virgin Hyperloop vehicles. The two-seater Pegasus Pod was built to demonstrate that passengers can safely travel in a Hyperloop vehicle. It is equipped with a control system that can detect off-nominal states and rapidly trigger appropriate emergency responses. The six-sm interior has the necessary safety equipment and controls built into the furniture. The production vehicle will be larger and seat up to 28 passengers.
The front scoops of the vessel create natural steps for easy entry and egress, and apertures on the sides of the fairing and on the front door contain a forward-facing window for outward viewing down the tunnel. These features create a link to Pegasus’ external design, where repeating soft forms and pill-shape cutouts are used to highlight depth, layers, and entryways.
Inside, the seating elements and extended arms function as an entry and egress aid, storage for safety equipment, oxygen throughput, and lighting. The seats can also be quickly assembled and disassembled for rear equipment access.
“When designing the future of transportation and the slate is sort of blank, the opportunities are endless. We’ve needed to adjust our way of thinking away from the classic modes of transporting like trains, planes and metros, and towards a new vehicle typology, closest to that of a spaceship,” said Jakob Lange, Partner, BIG, in a release.
Related Stories
| Jul 18, 2013
Top State Government Sector Architecture Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, Perkins+Will, HNTB top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest state government sector architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
Top Federal Government Sector Construction Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Clark Group, PCL, Hensel Phelps top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest federal government sector contractor and construction management firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
Top Federal Government Sector Engineering Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Fluor, URS, AECOM top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest federal government sector engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
Top Federal Government Sector Architecture Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
HOK, SmithGroupJJR, PageSoutherlandPage top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest federal government sector architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
Top Government Sector Construction Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Clark Group, Turner, PCL head Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest government sector contractors and construction management firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
Top Government Sector Engineering Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Fluor, URS, AECOM top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest government sector engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
Top Government Sector Architecture Firms [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, HOK, HDR top Building Design+Construction's 2013 ranking of the largest government sector architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 18, 2013
GSA regains stature under Tangherlini, who looks to trim its holdings, cut energy costs [2013 Giants 300 Report]
Over the past 15 months, Acting GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini has done a creditable job of restoring the agency’s standing with Congress and the public.
| Jul 1, 2013
Report: Global construction market to reach $15 trillion by 2025
A new report released today forecasts the volume of construction output will grow by more than 70% to $15 trillion worldwide by 2025.
| Jun 28, 2013
Building owners cite BIM/VDC as 'most exciting trend' in facilities management, says Mortenson report
A recent survey of more than 60 building owners and facility management professionals by Mortenson Construction shows that BIM/VDC is top of mind among owner professionals.