Driverless Trains to Debut in China Any Day Now

An upgraded version of magnetic levitation trains (maglev) is scheduled to be launched in 2020, according to China’s state media. These aren’t the types to break speed records, but these are intercity trains that are medium-low-speed designs developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotives Co solely in China. The latest version of the maglev is still comparatively much quicker, and shall operate at a dazzling 200 kph, with 40 kph more speed than the 2.0 version that’s currently being tested.

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This is twice the capability of its first version, operational in Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. The first two versions must be run with a human controller, which the latest version highlights doing without. Unlike high-speed trains utilized to connect big cities, medium-low-speed maglevs are used for intercity transportation. They are safer and run quieter than even a regular vacuum cleaner with minimal friction.

Faster and smarter: Maglev 3.0

The proposed version 3.0 is going to be faster and with improved climbing power. More importantly, for better safety, it will have a much more enhanced brain power compared to the first 2 versions. This significant upgrade shall allow it to run with a reliable autopilot function. When the project is complete, it should be used for city-wide transit, covering distances of 50-200 km.

Joining the Exclusive Maglev Club

The maglev has been deemed the future of train transportation for years, but only a few countries have actually focused their energies in developing the technology: Japan, South Korea, and China. It’s been touted as the future tech due to its magnetic repulsion, which minimizes friction between the rails and the train, and propels it smoothly forward. In 2002, China opened its very first maglev system for commercial use in the heart of the city towards the Shanghai Pudong Airport (30km). It remains the fastest maglev system to date, which runs at 400 kph. Meanwhile, in terms of high speed trains, Japan is poised to break the speed record by building the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line that can run a speed of up to 500 kph, connecting Tokyo and the city of Nagoya, cutting down travel time by half. The project is expected to be finished by the year 2027.

The Wisdom Segment

I The Hubble Space Telescope, named after Edwin Hubble, is one of the largest of its kind, reaching up to 43 feet long and weighing a staggering 24,000 pounds. Aside from its size and mass, the HST orbits around the Earth at nearly 17,000 mph, which is 22 times faster than the Fastest Land Speed World Record.

II The word Telescope is derived from two Greek Words:Tele, which means far, andskopein, meaning to see. Greek mathematician Giovanni Demisiani was the one who coined this term back in 1611, although perspicillum was his first term used before settling for telescope. This is also pretty much the same case for its Latin derivations tele (at a distance) and scopium (to examine/look).

III When one is building a telescope, the range is always considered, though the main concern is actually clarity. Even if the observer can see very far with their telescope, how clear of a planets surface and properties can be seen, as well as those of other celestial bodies, is a bigger drive.

IV Sidereus Nuncius, also known as Starry Messenger, was the very first published scientific work using the telescope, and was done so by Galileo Galilei in 1610. The Earths moon, Jupiter's moons, and many undiscovered stars were among the first of Galileos observations to be detailed in the publication. Aside from that, over 70 drawings of the moon and constellations were also part of the publications contents.

V Chile accounts for five of the worlds top ten largest space telescopes, as well as five of the worlds top ten smallest space telescopes. For the latter, four of them are located in the Paranal Observatory. However, the largest space telescope in operation is the Gran Telescopio Canarias, which is actually located in the Canary Islands.

VI Contrary to popular belief, the church actually had a historical interest in astronomy, and it even has its own telescope. This telescope is located in the Vatican Observatory in Italy, where Pope Paul was actually able to observe the moon during the 1969 Moon Landing before the moonwalk was broadcasted on television.

Driverless Trains to Debut in China Any Day Now

Faster and smarter: Maglev 3.0

Joining the Exclusive Maglev Club

The Wisdom Segment

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