TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
A method of monitoring tube integrity of a high-speed transportation system. The high-speed transportation system includes at least one tube structure having at least one track, at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube structure between a plurality of stations, a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure, and a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure. The tube structure is maintained as a low-pressure environment. The method includes directing a vehicle having at least one sensor along a tube path; and detecting a plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment using the at least one sensor.
1 . A method of monitoring tube integrity of a high-speed transportation system comprising: at least one tube structure having at least one track; at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube structure between a plurality of stations; a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure; and a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure, wherein the tube structure is maintained as a low-pressure environment, the method comprising:
directing a vehicle having at least one sensor along a tube path;
detecting a plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment using the at least one sensor.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is an aerial vehicle.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is a ground vehicle.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is remotely operable.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is autonomously operable.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an infrared imaging camera.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an FLIR (forward looking infrared) camera.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the infrared imaging camera is operable to monitor a heat profile of tube structure.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting the plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment comprises detecting gas having a different heat signature than ambient air around tube.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment is invisible to the naked eye.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a location of the plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment.
12 . An apparatus for monitoring tube integrity of a high-speed transportation system comprising: at least one tube structure having at least one track; at least one capsule configured for travel through the at least one tube structure between a plurality of stations; a propulsion system adapted to propel the at least one capsule through the structure; and a levitation system adapted to levitate the capsule within the structure, wherein the tube structure is maintained as a low-pressure environment, the apparatus comprising:
a vehicle having at least one sensor, wherein the at least one sensor is operable to detect a plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is an aerial vehicle.
14 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is a ground vehicle.
15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is remotely operable.
16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is autonomously operable.
17 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an infrared imaging camera.
18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises an FLIR (forward looking infrared) camera.
19 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the infrared imaging camera is operable to monitor a heat profile of tube structure.
20 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor is operable to detect the plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment by detecting gas having a different heat signature than ambient air around tube.
21 . The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a location identifier operable to identify a location of the plume of air leaked from the low-pressure environment.
22 . The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the location identifier comprises a global positioning system.