Posted on 10/23/2014 7:29:51 AM PDT by Blood of Tyrants
Ever since Marty McFly took to the air in the 1989 classic "Back to the Future II," humanity has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of a real, fully-functional hoverboard. Since then, tinkerers and scientists the world over have launched countless attempts at building such a device, and now, after more than 25 years of trying, technology has finally caught up with our far-fetched dreams. Thanks to a startup by the name of Hendo Hover, the hoverboard is finally a real thing that exists in the world that you and I inhabit.
How is such a thing possible? Well, according to the company’s Kickstater page, the magic behind the Hendo Hoverboard lies in its four disc-shaped hover engines. These are essentially giant downward-facing electromagnets that work together to create a powerful magnetic field which literally pushes against itself, thereby generating the lift which levitates the board above the ground.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It only works on metal surfaces. Still cool.
The only catch is that, unlike Marty McFly’s board, Hendo’s levitation trick only works when the board is sitting atop a non-ferromagnetic conductor — in other words, a solid sheet of metal that doesn’t contain iron or steel. For this reason, you unfortunately won’t be able to ride it around town. Practically, a board like this would be about as useful as a pair of ice skates as a means of transportation, but in a special metal-floored rink (like the one Hendo shows in the video), this thing could definitely be a good bit of fun.
The problem is doing something other than going in a straight line with it.
How do you turn it? Maglev holds it ‘up’ but if you picture a skateboard, there is nothing for force to work against to make it steer.
It is a baby step.
According to the article, they are working on that.
We were promised jetpacks.
If they can make that happen, there will be a huge return of the 80s style (all concrete) skateparks using whatever material is needed. Concrete Wave/Big O/DelMar/Skatopia style places..
Big Bang Theory did it two weeks ago. Or tried to anyway.
Keep your eye on Moller International!
Imagine how expensive metal roads will be.
I have a better method for making a hoverboard - What you do is make a liberal lay down on his or her belly then attach the board to their back, then place a piece of paper that has some facts printed on it under their face. The liberal will instantly be repelled by the facts and float in the air.
It’s a skateboard. So, sidewalks, not roads.
I’ve been reading about that particular flying vehicle for 20 years and it still isn’t practical.
I want the flying car that I was promised.
Especially when we have to buy the beer cans and junk cars back from China since mining is all but outlawed here now.
“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”
SCIENCE!
As long as you have a paramagnetic surface to hover over, you’re golden.
Yeah, but those boards dont work on water.
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