Impressive is an understatement. The age of the Jetsons has arrived!
Lexus Builds a Hoverboard...
a legitimate, for real, working actually prototype... it uses liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets to float above the ground...
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I just wish we could see someone at least standing on it fully, and ideally riding it around. Can it support weight? Will it just coast forever because there is no friction stopping it? I am left with more questions than answers.
Guy in the video didn't seem to be any more than 150lbs, ultimately they'd want to go with the average weight at the very least.I just wish we could see someone at least standing on it fully, and ideally riding it around. Can it support weight? Will it just coast forever because there is no friction stopping it? I am left with more questions than answers.
My thoughts exactly. I'm not sure it can support much weight. It will probably coast until the liquid nitrogen turns to gas and then the electronics heat-up and shut down. My gut feeling is not very long. But hey, it is fun to think you can do this.I just wish we could see someone at least standing on it fully, and ideally riding it around. Can it support weight? Will it just coast forever because there is no friction stopping it? I am left with more questions than answers.
Lots of questions about this, with no answers.
I see this more of a teaser than anything, we just see some guy take a step on it and that's it!
For all we know what we seen there could have been computer generated.
I see this more of a teaser than anything, we just see some guy take a step on it and that's it!
For all we know what we seen there could have been computer generated.
Apparently it only works on specially made metallic surfaces. So its not quite the revolution that we are hoping for, but it could be a fun novelty to try out at auto shows or the X Games and such. More of an attraction than a new mode of transportation.
http://gizmodo.com/wait-a-minute-did-lexus-actually-make-a-working-hoverb-1713469352But there are lots of clues that give us reason not to get our hopes up this time. Every hover device that relies on superconductors only works on a special magnetic surface, and this board appears to be floating on concrete at a regular old skate park. Update: Lexus has admitted that the board only works on special metallic surfaces, and that’s not just concrete seen in that video.
So it appears that the hoverboard will be revealed on August 5th.
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http://news.boldride.com/2015/07/lexus-hoverboard-unveiling-video/85968/
Mark your calendars for August 5th, boys and girls. That’s when Lexus will finally pull the sheet off its highly-anticipated hoverboard project. And yes, it is allegedly a real, working hoverboard.
http://news.boldride.com/2015/07/lexus-hoverboard-unveiling-video/85968/
I am still unconvinced it will really be usable. I mean how can you control the speed when there is no friction?
A lot of questions to be answered and I bet if we were to dig deeper we might find more information on it, just not from Lexus. There's a chance they contracted out the development or even pulled people on to their team to develop it.I am still unconvinced it will really be usable. I mean how can you control the speed when there is no friction?
I don't think it is meant to be usable. I think it is Lexus showing that it can do cool engineering things and it is not a conservative company.I am still unconvinced it will really be usable. I mean how can you control the speed when there is no friction?
It can happen, just that for now it won't be able to go just anywhere, only on designated areas:
But like all of the cool things from Back to the Future II, there are some kinks to be worked out. For the hoverboard, it can only be used on a special magnetic track that allows it to float. That is because the board is powered by liquid nitrogen, superconductors and magnets. Moreover, the hoverboard is not being developed for commercial sale. These bad boys will be available in extremely limited quantities starting August 5th and will as hard to come by as a sports almanac or Pepsi Perfect. Now if only the Cubs could win the World Series…
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So here is the big reveal!
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Some notes on the project. The entire park that the board is traversing is specially made of a magnetic material. The hoverboard also seems difficult to ride. No friction most of the time, except when it scrapes the ground from time to time, which I'm thinking would throw the rider off pretty easily.
Some notes on the project. The entire park that the board is traversing is specially made of a magnetic material. The hoverboard also seems difficult to ride. No friction most of the time, except when it scrapes the ground from time to time, which I'm thinking would throw the rider off pretty easily.
So the ability to use a hover-board on general surfaces is still a long way from reality. That's unfortunate.
But that's given considering what's involved and the current state of things. There really isn't much else to get it going than magnets.So the ability to use a hover-board on general surfaces is still a long way from reality. That's unfortunate.
The only alternative that comes to mind is if they were to design it based on the hover bike. That one uses propellers and has no need for magnetic surfaces.
Problem with that is it doesn't seem like this thing would accommodate propellers while accomplishing what they need it to accomplish while staying within the proportions needed.The only alternative that comes to mind is if they were to design it based on the hover bike. That one uses propellers and has no need for magnetic surfaces.
The issue with a hover board, no matter if it uses magnets or propellers or whatever else, is that because it is hovering there is no friction. That means weight imbalance will tip the board, there is no stopping or slowing down the board while riding really, and going over bumps you wouldn't really go over them, you'd more run into them. It might be something more fun to think about in the movies and video games then when you try it in real life, like communism. (jk, but kinda serious)
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