Japanese car brand Lexus has unveiled its eagerly anticipated hoverboard, which employs magnetic fields to carry its rider without touching the ground (+ film).
Following previews earlier this year, the Lexus Hoverboard has been filmed in action at a specially created skatepark.
Lexus worked with scientists from analysis institute IFW Dresden and magnetics experts Evico to build the board, which utilizes magnetic fields to levitate.
“Embarking on this venture, we set out to push the boundaries of technology, style and innovation to make the unattainable achievable,” said Lexus’ executive vice president Mark Templin. “With this task we get in touch with Slide, we collaborated with partners who share our passion for creating enjoyment out of motion.”
The idea of making use of a hoverboard as a method of personalized transportation was popularised by the sci-fi movie series Back to the Future. The self-lacing footwear that also featured the franchise are due to be launched by Nike this year.
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The Lexus Hoverboard is shaped like a skateboard with out wheels, but with a deeper profile. Its base incorporates two cryostats – chambers made to maintain a “superconducting” material at -197 degrees Celsius using liquid nitrogen.
At this minimal temperature, the materials expels a magnetic area. When positioned above another magnetic area, like the one emitted from the surface of the bespoke skatepark, the repulsion that occurs amongst the two leads to magnetic levitation.
“The magnetic discipline from the track is effectively ‘frozen’ into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance amongst the board and the track – basically keeping the board hovering,” said Evico CEO Oliver de Haas. “This force is powerful enough to let the rider to stand and even jump on the board.”
Clouds developed by the liquid nitrogen are emitted from either side of the board, including to its futuristic look.
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To test and show the hoverboard, above 200 metres of magnetic surface was laid beneath a skatepark in Cubelles, Barcelona, in which the promotional movie was filmed. The film shows riders gliding over the skatepark’s surfaces and even across the top of a pool.
Even though Lexus’ hoverboard is one particular of the most revolutionary current developments of the skateboard, other designers have also up to date the normal model.
In 2012, a Royal University of Artwork graduate developed a board with an eight-wheel mechanism that allows it to trip up curbs and descend flights of methods.
