Beittil Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 Elon at it again OMG https://boringcompany.com/ FunkyMike 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Zagadka Subscriber² Posted April 28, 2017 Subscriber² Share Posted April 28, 2017 That looks really, really dumb. So basically he wants to build large networks of tunnels under cities to aid transit less than 30-40 miles. That sounds incredibly expensive and terrible. minimeau 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 Why is this a bad idea? The tech used to make these tunnels will be to proof the technology used on Mars, and possibly elsewhere. We'll need this stuff. Even if it doesn't make it to Mars, it's still incredibly useful. I don't see the problem here. And I might add that Tunnel Boring machines are already incredibly expensive, time-consuming and frequently break down. If Elon & Co. have a better way, I'd like to see what they've got in mind before dismissing it. FunkyMike, SALSN, MikeChipshop and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Montage Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 24 minutes ago, Zagadka said: That looks really, really dumb. So basically he wants to build large networks of tunnels under cities to aid transit less than 30-40 miles. That sounds incredibly expensive and terrible. Norway disagrees. MikeChipshop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Zagadka Subscriber² Posted April 28, 2017 Subscriber² Share Posted April 28, 2017 The pathetic attempt known as the LA subway system agrees, though. minimeau 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted April 28, 2017 Author Share Posted April 28, 2017 Next thing you know he wants to pump the air out of those tunnels and start shooting bullet trains through em eh Shiranui 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Montage Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 13 minutes ago, Zagadka said: The pathetic attempt known as the LA subway system agrees, though. Pathetic attempt being the key phrase Alera 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 There was a series of tests done by the US military with regards to tunnelling/drilling and they discovered it could be sped up considerably by using microwaves or circulating liquified metals to melt the rock. It also left behind a hard, vitreous crust on the bore holes inner wall. Another effort was a nuclear powered 'subterrene' - an underground submarine. Look up patent number 3,693,731 "Method and apparatus for tunneling by melting" https://www.google.com/patents/US3693731 FunkyMike, +devHead and +Mirumir 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLien_0 Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 I'm hoping Earthquakes are factored into the design of this haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 29, 2017 Share Posted April 29, 2017 The LA subway was designed to be good to an earthquake of 7.5R. In the 1985 Mexico quake (8.1R) there were power disruptions, but the tunnels held and people evacuated by hoofing it. In the 2010 Chilean quake (8.8R) the subway was running the next day. Taipei, Kobe, Northridge and Loma Prieta (San Francisco 1989) - no damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 Or just don't build them in earthquake zones! Alera 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said: Or just don't build them in earthquake zones! Not many of those, and most subways in the US are in quake zones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted April 30, 2017 Author Share Posted April 30, 2017 I am still wondering how real this is on a scale of 1..10 I mean, how can Elon even do yet more? Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, Boring Company... thats a lot on his plate! SALSN 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Zagadka Subscriber² Posted April 30, 2017 Subscriber² Share Posted April 30, 2017 Between mass transit and self-driving cars (the latter of which will take a while to become widespread, but so would mazes of giant tunnels under every city), this is pointless. And the problem with the tunnels isn't just earthquakes. That isn't the main problem the LA subway construction had. The problem was that drilling under a large modern city is dangerous as hell. The LA subway ran billions upon billions over cost and caused tons of sinkholes. Look at the Big Dig in Boston. These things are complex and expensive. I simply don't see the cost-benefit for balancing out. Maybe if they were traveling hundreds of miles, but not for in-city travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted April 30, 2017 Share Posted April 30, 2017 (edited) 1 hour ago, Beittil said: I am still wondering how real this is on a scale of 1..10 I mean, how can Elon even do yet more? Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, Boring Company... thats a lot on his plate! About this real, He bought a TBM and he has permits to start drilling under LA. The first tunnel will be from SpaceX HQ to a new parking structure built for the folks at Hawthorne. After that, there's been talk of another tunnel. He also plans to mod the TBM to speed up its drilling rate. And he's also "drilling" Amber Heard. A busy boy indeed Edited April 30, 2017 by DocM +E.Worm Jimmy, +Mirumir and Unobscured Vision 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 Not a bad life. You get to figure out interesting ways to get above and below ... and into things. And the only thing stopping ya is your own imagination and Science. And if the Science stops you, you laugh at it and tell it "we'll see what's possible and what isn't". Real-life Tony Stark. DocM 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 (edited) When they made Iron Man they based the characterization on Musk, and filmed scenes in the SpaceX factory. He even has a full size Iron Man suit and a Cylon near the entrance to the SpaceX factory. Edited May 1, 2017 by DocM Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shiranui Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 2 hours ago, DocM said: And he's also "drilling" Amber Heard. A busy boy indeed He's welcome to her – these days I don't really like anything Johnny Depp has been in.... Dick Montage 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 1 hour ago, Shiranui said: He's welcome to her – these days I don't really like anything Johnny Depp has been in.... Considering that Depp was allegedly abusive, I'm not sure what you're implying here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shiranui Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 Forgot all about that. She's well rid of him. Unobscured Vision, DocM and Dick Montage 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 So had I until the mention of Depp, then I remembered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 5 hours ago, DocM said: When they made Iron Man they based the characterization on Musk, and filmed scenes in the SpaceX factory. He even has a full size Iron Man suit and a Cylon near the entrance to the SpaceX factory. Pretty sure they based it on the Iron Man comics actually... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 9 minutes ago, FloatingFatMan said: Pretty sure they based it on the Iron Man comics actually... That info was from Robert Downey Jr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 Just now, DocM said: That info was from Robert Downey Jr. Try reading the comics sometime. Downey might have based some of the characterisation on Musk, but most of it is clearly based on the original source. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Evil Overlord Posted May 1, 2017 Share Posted May 1, 2017 8 hours ago, DocM said: About this real, He bought a TBM and he has permits to start drilling under LA. The first tunnel will be from SpaceX HQ to a new parking structure built for the folks at Hawthorne. After that, there's been talk of another tunnel. He also plans to mod the TBM to speed up its drilling rate. And he's also "drilling" Amber Heard. A busy boy indeed He's got my respect then, +Raze 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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