China, Japan jointly develop ‘albatross’ high-speed train, with a top speed of 500km/h

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

The new Aero Train, with its albatross-inspired design, has the capacity to beat the top speed of the Shanghai Maglev, currently the world’s fastest train

China’s efforts to bring high-speed rail travel around the world look set to heat up as it jointly develops a robotic train with Japan that can run up to 500 kilometres per hour, which would make it one of the world’s fastest trains.

Test runs and manufacturing of the first- and second-generation versions of the Aero Train have been conducted in Japan, the Chongqing Morning Post reported, citing Lai Chenguang, a project participant and a professor at the Chongqing University of Technology.

The Aero Train’s indicative top speed of 500km/h would beat the Shanghai Maglev, which clocked in at 430km/h.

Initial plans would have Japan launch the world’s first Aero Train line in 2025.

Once commercially deployed, the Aero Train can cut travelling time between Tokyo and Osaka to an hour from the current schedule of two hours and 30 minutes on the Nozomi Shinkansen, the fastest of the three types of Japanese bullet trains.

Lai did not respond to email inquiries for more details about the Aero Train project.

A team of Japanese researchers from Tohoku University in Sendai, a city of north of Tokyo, first unveiled the Aero Train project in 2011 in a paper presented at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Shanghai, according to a report in online magazine Industry Leaders.

The Aero Train, like the Shanghai Maglev, does not run on rails. The aerodynamically levitated train uses stubby, U-shaped little wings and fast-moving air to fly just above the ground.

The Shanghai Maglev, with its magnetic levitation system, is supposed to do exactly the same thing, but the typical wind drag created between the bottom of a maglev train and the rails make these inefficient and expensive, according to the Industry Leaders report.

http://www.scmp.com/tech/enterprise...-develop-albatross-high-speed-train-top-speed

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Don't know how China and Japan can work together but it's a positive new. LOL

 

[ashok321]

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

I think something like this

 

[Dai Toruko]

Actually, most of Chinese public projects can not make profits. They can be considered as the welfare provided by the government.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Actually, most of Chinese public projects can not make profits. They can be considered as the welfare provided by the government.

Public projects is meant to serve people, profits come to second place, it's not only welfare but help our citizens to have a competitive edge over the world, with high speed train, we can help Chinese business people for quick travelling, conclude their business faster and as China's reward our economy can develop faster.

 

[ZeEa5KPul]

Actually, most of Chinese public projects can not make profits. They can be considered as the welfare provided by the government.

You might want to look up the term "positive externality." The mystery of infrastructure investment will then be revealed to you.

 

[艹艹艹]

Actually, most of Chinese public projects can not make profits. They can be considered as the welfare provided by the government.

Is there no such welfare in your country?

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

Is there no such welfare in your country?

Turkish welfare is from millions Turk immigrants to send money back to help their family in Turkey, at least they have family spirit as Chinese people.

 

[UserUnknown2025]

Actually, most of Chinese public projects can not make profits. They can be considered as the welfare provided by the government.

Since Turkey is obviously a capitalistic supa powa, it should have no government "welfare" at all. The Turks have somehow mastered the ability to live without roads, water, and electricity.

 

[TaiShang]

Don't know how China and Japan can work together but it's a positive new. LOL

I am also surprised. I am expecting Japan to move closer, especially in terms of economic relations, and eventually become a part and parcel of the BRI. But, launching an advanced technology project jointly was beyond my expectation.

Sometimes not of their own choosing, but, due to external developments, such as rise of high-protectionism in the US. In this case, both Korea and Japan will get much closer to China. An eventual regional economic bloc is not that far-fetched.

 

[Kiss_of_the_Dragon]

I am also surprised. I am expecting Japan to move closer, especially in terms of economic relations, and eventually become a part and parcel of the BRI. But, launching an advanced technology project jointly was beyond my expectation.

Sometimes not of their own choosing, but, due to external developments, such as rise of high-protectionism in the US. In this case, both Korea and Japan will get much closer to China. An eventual regional economic bloc is not that far-fetched.

I think Japan just don't want to miss the window opportunity like previous high speed train cooperation, if they foresee the scale of China's high speed rail infrastructure project, they wouldn't be arrogant about their high speed technology . Now China is not far behind to Japan in high speed tech so they don't have much advantage, only with cooperation China might willing to share a portion of cake to Japan and instead of go for killer mode competition, we will make some room for Japan in international high speed project.

 

[Dante80]

The new Aero Train, with its albatross-inspired design, has the capacity to beat the top speed of the Shanghai Maglev, currently the world’s fastest train

China’s efforts to bring high-speed rail travel around the world look set to heat up as it jointly develops a robotic train with Japan that can run up to 500 kilometres per hour, which would make it one of the world’s fastest trains.

Test runs and manufacturing of the first- and second-generation versions of the Aero Train have been conducted in Japan, the Chongqing Morning Post reported, citing Lai Chenguang, a project participant and a professor at the Chongqing University of Technology.

The Aero Train’s indicative top speed of 500km/h would beat the Shanghai Maglev, which clocked in at 430km/h.

Initial plans would have Japan launch the world’s first Aero Train line in 2025.

Once commercially deployed, the Aero Train can cut travelling time between Tokyo and Osaka to an hour from the current schedule of two hours and 30 minutes on the Nozomi Shinkansen, the fastest of the three types of Japanese bullet trains.

Lai did not respond to email inquiries for more details about the Aero Train project.

A team of Japanese researchers from Tohoku University in Sendai, a city of north of Tokyo, first unveiled the Aero Train project in 2011 in a paper presented at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation in Shanghai, according to a report in online magazine Industry Leaders.

The Aero Train, like the Shanghai Maglev, does not run on rails. The aerodynamically levitated train uses stubby, U-shaped little wings and fast-moving air to fly just above the ground.

The Shanghai Maglev, with its magnetic levitation system, is supposed to do exactly the same thing, but the typical wind drag created between the bottom of a maglev train and the rails make these inefficient and expensive, according to the Industry Leaders report.

http://www.scmp.com/tech/enterprise...-develop-albatross-high-speed-train-top-speed

----------------
Don't know how China and Japan can work together but it's a positive new. LOL

Current goal of the "Aerotrain" is to connect Narita and Haneda Airports (Tokyo) in 10 minutes, although that is a long ways off as the research is continuing. Currently, the connection takes at least hour and half, either by conventional rail or by bus.

Don't mistake this for Japan's SCMaglev. No goal for going to Nagoya, or Osaka for this mode.

The motivation behind the Aerotrain (powered by ducted fans, a.k.a. propeller-powered) is more energy efficiency than speed, although achieving 310 mph is one goal of theirs. A simple motive power (ducted fan) allows for electrical source (solar-powered, batteries, etc.). Since the Aerotrain doesn't have to "take off" like an airplane, there's little (if any) hurdle to fight gravity. Huge savings in energy right there.

The last update on the project (ART003, third prototype) was back in 2011, and the goal of this prototype was to carry two passengers at speeds of 200 km/h (124 mph). Seems that testing was successful after digging through Tohoku University's web site.

Other parts of the story are not credible. While the second prototype (ART002) was shown at IEEE Robotics Conference in Shanghai China, this is NOT a China/Japan joint venture that it is being recklessly insinuated. It is certainly an academic endeavor where engineers and scientists from around the world (including Japan and China) are studying the concept.

"Beating the Shanghai Maglev" is not the project's goal, but it's certainly a snarky editorial jab at the Shanghai Maglev's inability to expand its reach. Remember, Germany's TransRapid abandoned the technology!

Lastly, this is not really a new concept. See this for reference..

 

[rambro]

Actually, most of Chinese public projects can not make profits. They can be considered as the welfare provided by the government.

That is actually short sighted.
Instant gratification is always short term.

 

[Dante80]

That is actually short sighted.
Instant gratification is always short term.

That is not really about it though. Infrastructure spending in PRC is both a means to boost the economy (via the spending itself) and a way to apply the direct or indirect benefits said infra contains (as an economic multiplier and a modernizing medium) much faster than a more conventional profit-based venture would permit (if at all).

It is the exact opposite of short-sighted. Instead of focusing on the instant gratification that a fast RoI would bring, they are thinking of the big picture and calculating the effects holistically (not only the direct effect for the one doing the project). Your argument might have had merit if PRC was funding and building "bridges to nowhere" (employment sinks). But they are actually not doing that at all.

 

[Baybars Han]

Turkish welfare is from millions Turk immigrants to send money back to help their family in Turkey, at least they have family spirit as Chinese people.

Haha. Do you know how many million Chinese immigrants there are around the world? At least 10x the amount of Turks.

What a family spirit