Video: Elon Musk’s futuristic vision on an underground road system

The multilayer road system would involve a trolley that would take the car under the ground and then transport it to another point in the city

By: | Updated: May 1, 2017 2:45 PM
These underground platform would accelerate to 200 kmph (screenshot)

Tesla boss Elon Musk has showcased his vision of what future transport may look like - an underground system of roads. Musk released a video of the tunnel system he visualises under Los Angeles. He also spoke of his plans on fully autonomous routes across the US as the Ted (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference. The idea behind the underground road system stems from Musk's absolute despise towards traffic jams. Being stuck in traffic is "soul destroying", he said at the conference.

Musk has set up a firm which will be responsible for this project - the Boring Company. He said that setting up this firm only took 3% of his time and that it is mostly managed by interns and part-timers.

Founder of Tesla and SpaceX released a video elaborating the system. One might think that the traffic would just be underground as a result of this system. However, Musk plans to put the cars on platforms which would transport them.

The multilayer road system would involve a trolley that would take the car under the ground and then transport it to another point in the city, following which the car drives away once the platform brings it above the surface again. These platforms would accelerate to 200 kmph.

Musk said he wanted "no limits" on how many tunnels would have to be built, but ways to cut costs on boring and speeding up the building of these tunnels was the challenge. "We have a pet snail called Gary, and Gary is capable of moving 14 times faster than a tunnel boring machine - so the ambition is to beat Gary," he said.

Analysts have hailed Musk's vision to relieve congestion on roads, while warning that this project would not be easy. They added that it would have to be a private-public partnership.

Also read: Tesla to enter Indian market soon in 2017, just don’t expect the fancy Autopilot system

The entrepreneur has been known for developing tech that would ease life for people and ensure human existence in the long run. Musk recently started a new firm NeuraLink, which aims to augment the human brain with computer technology. Besides this, the SapceX founder is determined to send a rocket to Mars, seriousness for which is proved in the firm's latest feat of launching a recycled rocket.

Also read: Volvo considering new Tesla competing electric vehicle by 2019

Tesla had been the centre of many controversies following a fatal crash in May last year when a man was killed is a semi-autonomous car. However, Musk refuses to hold back his plans on making journeys across the US fully autonomous. His plans also includes installation of solar power roof tiles on every home by the next 50 years. About his ever expanding ambitions, Musk spoke of test driving a electric semi-autonomous truck, which he says would handle “like a sports car”.

Elaborating on Tesla's objective, Musk said that the brand aims to "accelerate the inevitable use of sustainable energy", and it is a fundamental aspiration to achieve that by a decade.

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