11 Aug Back to the future |Lexus Hoverboard make your dreams come true !
The Lexus Hoverboard project began 18 months ago through a collaboration with a team of scientists from IFW Dresden and evico GmbH, who specialize in magnetic levitation technology. Following extensive testing with pro skateboarder and hoverboard test rider Ross McGouran, in Dresden, Germany, the team were determined to push the hoverboard to its limits and conduct further tests within dynamic surroundings.
Since the Lexus Hoverboard was unveiled in June, testing has been carried out in a specially constructed hover park in Cubelles, Barcelona, combining elements from skate culture with technology within its architecture. Up to 200 meters of magnetic track was transported to Barcelona from the Dresden facility to lay beneath the hoverpark surface in order to create the dynamic test, offering Lexus the opportunity to demonstrate tricks no skateboard could ever perform, like travelling across water.
As speculated from the vapors coming out of the board in the original photos, Slide relies on superconductive technology. Two “cryostat” reservoirs, in which the superconducting material is kept at -197 degrees through immersion in liquid nitrogen, essentially power the board. The board only hovers when placed on the track containing embedded permanent magnets.
THE STORY:
Pro skater Ross McGouran makes riding Slide look easy but apparently it isn’t. Automotive site Jalopnik was invited to try out the hoverboard and shows just how much balance it takes to ride the wheel-less board.
Lexus says that Slide is purely a prototype and will not go on sale. So while it does work, your dreams of hovering down local sidewalks on your own personal hoverboard remain in the realm of fantasy for now.
Article By DAVE PINTER
More on future Objects: psfk.com
