Lexus Builds a Functional Hoverboard Prototype

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-24/lexus-builds-a-functional-hoverboard-prototype

by taietel • 11 years ago

97 32 11 years ago

santoriv• 11 years ago

That was a nice marketing video. However they didn't show it actually working aside from it just staying in one place without falling over.

ansible• 11 years ago

Yeah, I was laughing at that. The dude starts to step on the board, and then the video cuts out. I guess we don't get to see him fall off almost immediately.

What was the point of all this again?

wmeredith• 11 years ago

It's a teaser. Seeing what happens after he steps on the board is what they're explicitly trying to generate interest around.

fit2rule• 11 years ago

Isn't it going to need special pavement to function? Unless they've found a way to magnetize asphalt or something ..

brixon• 11 years ago

It magnetized the air. [Mind Blown]

geon• 11 years ago

Superconductive magnetic locking is nothing new. Even the "hover board" has been done before.

The whole concept is so stupid it hurts. The superconductors in the board needs to be extremely cold, and the ground needs to be covered in magnets. Or vice versa. The liquid nitrogen needed for this is cumbersome and will evaporate quickly.

As seen the last time someone tried making a hover board it is impossible to stand on it. It will slide with equal non- friction in every direction making it impossible to keep the balance. The only alternative is to keep it locked to a track, like a toy train.

relet2• 11 years ago

It is perfectly possible to stand on it if it is powered. The same you can stand on a Segway: As long as it moves itself under your center of gravity when tilting. That would then also be the steering.

bsaunder• 11 years ago

The problem is, there's no friction (as the article states) for the board. What would the board push against to adjust itself? In the Segway, the wheels touch the ground and provide something for the motors to act against. This is more like an astronaut in space (if I'm understanding the situation correctly).

I like the idea (my kids would love it). It certainly has marketing value and calls up dreams of an amazing future, but there do seem to be some real practical problems (as the parent alludes to). Stopping seems particularly exciting.

muraiki• 11 years ago

The Hendo hoverboard uses similar technology to MagLev. People can not only stand on it hovering over a flat surface, but can ride it over a half pipe: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/21/we-rode-a-hoverboard/

Edit: I realize now that superconductive magnetic locking might be different than this, but since you mentioned the need for magnets I guess I got confused. Sorry for the downvote.

pluma• 11 years ago

"Ride it over a half pipe" is misleading as it makes people think of skateboards. The thing weighs a ton. "Slide" would be a more accurate description. Good luck trying to jump with this battle truck of a "board".

alphonse23• 11 years ago

and the ground needs to be covered in magnets... I guess there goes their claim that they'll be no need for roads. In the words of a modern day skater: "bummer"

avian• 11 years ago

The board uses liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors and magnets

This sounds like it uses the Meissner effect. If so, it will only work on special surfaces.

Compare with Hendo, which was also way over hyped and only mentioned this little detail in the fine print. Theirs works on a slightly different principle though.

DonHopkins• 11 years ago

Insane Clown Posse is going to have a hard time explaining how this works.

Rainymood• 11 years ago

So... it doesn't work yet.

What a giant cocktease video, geez ...

kriro• 11 years ago

Doc: Roads? Where we are going we do need magnetized roads.

imaginenore• 11 years ago

Meh. It's been done before. It only works above magnetic surfaces.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSheVhmcYLA

savrajsingh• 11 years ago

Neat! The video implies it could work on non-special surfaces (like concrete). Is that possible?

INTPenis• 11 years ago

The video also cuts out just after the first foot is placed on the hoverboard. Right now this is literally vaporware.

cafeoh3• 11 years ago

Hehe, that's nice.

cafeoh3• 11 years ago

Update: We got in touch with Lexus, and confirmed that like the other examples we've seen, there is a metal surface underneath the skate park shown here -- it's real, but you won't be riding this thing just anywhere

source : http://www.engadget.com/2015/06/23/lexus-slide-hoverboard-ma...

samstave• 11 years ago

Can you ask them how much weight it will support?

rokhayakebe• 11 years ago

It’s very confidential information but we have been studying the flying car in our most advanced R&D area

mrfusion• 11 years ago

I'd like to see this phenominom attempted for a hoverboard [1]. It seems like it might work.

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3274335

orblivion• 11 years ago

Not even a nod to Hendo, who already had Tony Hawk try out their board.

LastZactionHero• 11 years ago

As a guy who wore out the Back to the Future II vhs growing up, the negativity is a little frustrating.

Technical limitations? Gasp! Not practical? Such hacks! Even the movie board didn't work on water.

It's a marketing stunt. But it's also an homage to something inspirational.

Lexus Builds a Functional Hoverboard Prototype

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