Transportation system

Abstract

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.