The Hyperloop… and Santa’s sleigh!

Have you ever wondered what kind of technology Santa’s sleigh has? How is it possible to deliver so many gifts in one night? How fast does it have to go?

Pablo A. Ruz Salmones – CEO, X eleva Group

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At a time when there are more and more people and children in the world, and in which means of transport are getting faster, surely Santa Claus will have to use the latest technology to deliver gifts.

One of the most advanced transportation technologies in the world is the Hyperloop, which is estimated to be able to travel at 960 km/h. Will this technology be a reality at some point? The basis of the hyperloop is in vacuum tubes and electromagnetism. It is, therefore, a kind of mix between mail tubes and modern trains of today, which would be capable of propelling hundreds of people through vacuum tubes with the help of electromagnetic motors similar to those of Tesla cars.

Although Elon Musk is one of the biggest enthusiasts of this technology, he is not the only one. In fact, one of the main advances was presented in 2020 by Virgin Hyperloop (by Richard Branson) in Las Vegas, when the company managed to move several people using said technology. Although it only reached a speed of 172 km/h and the distance was only 500 meters, many specialists said that it was the first time in more than 100 years that a new form of transport could really be created, capable of completely revolutionizing transport. massive, either in large cities or between states and even countries.

Despite these wonders, the hyperloop is no match for one of the most advanced transportation technologies in history… Santa’s sleigh!

Although no one knows for sure what kind of technology he possesses (the plans are said to be in the North Pole command center), it is likely that he makes use of several of the following, or more advanced versions of them:

• LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Radars: These are sensors currently used by companies such as ArgoAI (competitors to Tesla’s autonomous system) and are capable of generating 3D images of their surroundings. Surely Santa Claus uses them to be able to generate maps of the cities and not crash his sleigh.
• GPS, Glonass, or similar system: to know where on the planet it is, it is very likely that Santa’s sleigh uses the stars to guide itself, or a GPS system or similar to be able to locate itself at all times.
• 5G or higher communication technology. Can you imagine having to distribute millions of gifts in a single night, with children going to visit their loved ones in other houses? Surely Santa’s sleigh needs to be in contact with the North Pole command to be updated on the last minute changes.
• Reindeer fed with “ultra advanced” food. According to a study by the University of Leicester, in order to deliver all the gifts in a single night and visit 238 million homes of Christian or believing children around the world, Santa Claus would have to travel at a speed of 0.5% of the speed speed of light (more than 5 million kilometers per hour!).

While the hyperloop is one of the greatest transportation aspirations of our times, it’s nowhere near as close to Santa’s sleigh!