UNIST has launched an initiative to build overseas networks to collaborate in developing the futuristic transportation system dubbed HyperTube, which can travel at a speed of one thousand kilometers per hour.
On August 10, UNIST and the Korean Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) held a forum on Future Rail Technology: HyperTube Technology, inviting some of the world’s leading scientists and hyperloop industry professionals.
This forum was held as part of the 2017 US-KOREA Conference on Science, Technology and Entrepreneurship (UKC), which was held in Washington D.C., United States. In the opening ceremony, President Mooyoung Jung of UNIST delivered congratulatory remark, following the opening and welcoming remarks by Dr. Keun-Yul Yang, Acting President of KRRI and Dr. Yong-Rak Kim, Vice President of the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA).
The primary objective of this forum was to develop ideas on smart rail systems, incorporating the Fourth Industrial Revolution technology. In addition to a variety of technical presentations by four distinguished guest speakers, the forum featured one keynote address by Sevastien Gendronof, CEO and founder of Canadian-based hyperloop startup TransPod Inc. He gave an excellent presentation on “Transpod Hyperloop System.”
The UNIST Hyperloop passenger transport capsule conceptual design, created by Prof. Yunwoo Jeong in the School of Design and Human Engineering.
At the forum, Professor JooHwan Oh in the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering at UNIST also introduced the application of the topology optimization method to produce a lightweight, yet strong body strucure for the futuristic hypertube train. The forum also presented the four winning hyperloop designs, chosen through an open innovation competition by KRRI.
UKC is an annual conference, drawing over 4,000 scientists, engineers, government officials, industry executives, and policy-makers from both the United States and South Korea. Co-organized by KSEA, the program includes symposiums, forums and workshops to cover broad areas of science and technology, including but not limited to basic science, applied science, engineering, technology, entrepreneurship and science policy. The purpose of this event is to promote networking among participants to allow scientific collaboration between the two countries, as well as to provide young scientists and engineers with an opportunity to learn about and explore their career opportunities.
The UKC 2017 was held from August 9 – 12, 2017 in the Hyatt Regency Crystal City near Washington D.C., Capital of the United States. Under the theme “Engagement Opportunities for Global Challenges: Convergence and Innovation through Cooperation”, this year’s conference offered an environment where convergence and innovation can be ignited and implemented through interdisciplinary integrations.
