The Strategic Importance of Base Stations and Communication Systems within Hyperloops

One of the critical components of managing a hyperloop system where one track will likely be occupied by many pods is the intercommunication between pods and a hyperloop control station. Communication, particularly in a risk prone area such as that within a hyperloop tube which is depressurized to around 100Pa (the same pressure 50km above sea level!) is critical to avoid catastrophe and keep the transport running smoothly.

The research paper Guidelines and Feasibility of Base Station Deployment for Hyperloop Communications by Jeongtak Kim Hyoil Kim attempts to fill a gap in this communication systems research particularly involving the high speeds associated with hyperloop pods as well as interference within the tube with other high speed hyperloop pods. Their ideas revolve around the idea of base stations, wireless communication hubs located within the tube at regular intervals which are then connected to a wired communication system external to the tube converging at a single hyperloop command center. This form of communication system encourages robustness and contingency which is what a hyperloop system requires in order to maintain safety of the passengers and keep multiple pods running in the same tube concurrently. 

One critical point the authors bring up involving base stations and the various hyperloop pods is the importance of synchronizing the arrival and departure of terminals for multiple pods within the hyperloop tube. In order to prevent interference with two pods attempting to communicate with the same base station, it is important that no two pods occupy the same base station at once which requires the synchronization of the movement of the various pods within a hyperloop network. The authors explore multiple scenarios for how this might be accomplished including variations of a system involving accelerating under the range of the home terminal where connectivity will remain with the station a given pod is departing from. Under this system, a given pod would use antennas located towards the rear of the pod to communicate with the base station until accelerated to maximum speed where communications would then switch to antennas located towards the front of the pod until a pod goes directly over a base station. Then the pod switches communication back to the rear repeating the cycle until a destination is reached. 

One important addition the authors mention is the use of IOT sensors integrated along the track to relay critical information on the pressure, temperature, and whether a given pod has reached a certain point along the track which can be seamlessly wired into base stations providing a feasible system to provide a central command center synchronized data points along the entirety of the hyperloop track. Such sensors could be repeated in a tiling fashion around the placement of each base station which ensures constant connectivity. Maintaining a holistic view of not only the internals of a pod but also the track and tube itself is key in detecting early warning signs of potential accidents such as depressurization and allowing for rapid responses to such accidents where speed at the order of milliseconds is required to save lives.