Does it work on water?
June 24, 2015 6:15 AM Subscribe
A hoverboard. The size of a skateboard. Lexus (!) says it works.
Check the video to see a teaser of the technology in action: a teaser, admittedly, that doesn't show a whole lot in the way of hovery, skatey action.posted by Fizz at 6:26 AM on June 24, 2015
Just so everybody remembers it properly, hoverboards do work on water, you just can't propel them without power.
posted by Navelgazer at 6:27 AM on June 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Navelgazer at 6:27 AM on June 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
This is heavy.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:32 AM on June 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 6:32 AM on June 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Lexus answers our Back to the Future prayers, builds magnetic flying skateboard
Hey, maybe Japan will even restart their economy through the power of hoverboards and take over the world just like in all our worst late-80s nightmares!
posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:32 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hey, maybe Japan will even restart their economy through the power of hoverboards and take over the world just like in all our worst late-80s nightmares!
posted by J.K. Seazer at 6:32 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I don't see anyone actually standing on it. Either it requires a special surface to push against, or it can't support a person's weight, or both. Look how much give there is when the guy puts a single foot on it.
wetblanket
Additionally, even if it actually works, hoverboards have other serious drawbacks relative to their wheeled equivalents. There's basically no friction. How do you turn? How do you stay pointed straight?
/wetblanket
posted by leotrotsky at 6:33 AM on June 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
wetblanket
Additionally, even if it actually works, hoverboards have other serious drawbacks relative to their wheeled equivalents. There's basically no friction. How do you turn? How do you stay pointed straight?
/wetblanket
posted by leotrotsky at 6:33 AM on June 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
I'm suspecting liquid nitrogen cooled (or perhaps liquid helium cooled) superconductors over a magnetic rail buried in the concrete.
Or that quantum-locked superconductor stuff. Then you could skate upside-down.
On preview, I also suspect some veeeeeery close tolerances to not-quite hitting the ground.
posted by nonspecialist at 6:34 AM on June 24, 2015
Or that quantum-locked superconductor stuff. Then you could skate upside-down.
On preview, I also suspect some veeeeeery close tolerances to not-quite hitting the ground.
posted by nonspecialist at 6:34 AM on June 24, 2015
Great, something else for yahoos to clog up the sidewalk with.
posted by jonmc at 6:35 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 6:35 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is heavy.
"There's that word again. "Heavy." Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?"
posted by leotrotsky at 6:39 AM on June 24, 2015 [20 favorites]
"There's that word again. "Heavy." Why are things so heavy in the future? Is there a problem with the Earth's gravitational pull?"
posted by leotrotsky at 6:39 AM on June 24, 2015 [20 favorites]
From the website:
The Lexus Hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement.
Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible.
That sounds kewl and all but won't that just allow me to ride over magnetic grounds?! :(
posted by bigendian at 6:43 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
The Lexus Hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve amazing frictionless movement.
Liquid nitrogen cooled superconductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible.
That sounds kewl and all but won't that just allow me to ride over magnetic grounds?! :(
posted by bigendian at 6:43 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
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
posted by booooooze at 6:44 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by booooooze at 6:44 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
I hope the mods are ready, because there are going to be *so many posts* on October 21st at 4:29 PM this year.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:45 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by leotrotsky at 6:45 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
No, it won't be a problem, I already jumped ahead and checked just to be sure that we—oh, shit, I've said to much.
posted by cortex at 6:51 AM on June 24, 2015 [20 favorites]
posted by cortex at 6:51 AM on June 24, 2015 [20 favorites]
Depends how they're doing it. The vapour coming off suggests that it's supercooled, which makes me think of the quantumn levitation / locking demonstrations that were all over the internet last year. That involves a superconductor (which needs to be cold) in the board, over a magnetic track.
They might also be doing the same thing as the Hendo Hoverboard, which again uses powerful (superconducting?) magnets, and will hover over any non-ferrous, conductive surface. These guys used copper sheeting. You can see a video of Tony Hawk riding one toward the bottom of that article, or a different one of the same event here. Evidently, because it's frictionless in all directions, it constantly twists and slides underneath you, so you have none of the control of a skateboard. Given how much Tony Hawk struggled to ride it, I don't have high hopes for us mere mortals.
posted by metaBugs at 6:56 AM on June 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
They might also be doing the same thing as the Hendo Hoverboard, which again uses powerful (superconducting?) magnets, and will hover over any non-ferrous, conductive surface. These guys used copper sheeting. You can see a video of Tony Hawk riding one toward the bottom of that article, or a different one of the same event here. Evidently, because it's frictionless in all directions, it constantly twists and slides underneath you, so you have none of the control of a skateboard. Given how much Tony Hawk struggled to ride it, I don't have high hopes for us mere mortals.
posted by metaBugs at 6:56 AM on June 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
There's basically no friction. How do you turn? How do you stay pointed straight?
I have no doubt that if a functional hoverboard is ever invented, some people will learn how to use it, and use it well. To steer, for example, you'd just have to have your foot positioned on the board right, and drag your other foot. You could even get like some kind of specialized wingsuit so that you basically have a rudder/control surface to steer with.
posted by mayonnaises at 6:56 AM on June 24, 2015
I have no doubt that if a functional hoverboard is ever invented, some people will learn how to use it, and use it well. To steer, for example, you'd just have to have your foot positioned on the board right, and drag your other foot. You could even get like some kind of specialized wingsuit so that you basically have a rudder/control surface to steer with.
posted by mayonnaises at 6:56 AM on June 24, 2015
No, it won't be a problem, I already jumped ahead and checked just to be sure that we—oh, shit, I've said to much.
The thing with time travel is if it could ever exist, then it has always existed. And not killing Hitler was the least bad option.
There's basically no friction. How do you turn? How do you stay pointed straight?
Here's an instructional video.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:08 AM on June 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
The thing with time travel is if it could ever exist, then it has always existed. And not killing Hitler was the least bad option.
There's basically no friction. How do you turn? How do you stay pointed straight?
Here's an instructional video.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 7:08 AM on June 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
To steer, for example, you'd just have to have your foot positioned on the board right, and drag your other foot.
Maybe they could solve the steering conundrum by putting some wheels on it and...
Okay, you know what? Hoverboards are completely fucking stupid. They're a silly contrivance from a silly movie franchise, mostly there as a surface to place a prominent Mattel logo. Can we, as a society, move on?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:08 AM on June 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Maybe they could solve the steering conundrum by putting some wheels on it and...
Okay, you know what? Hoverboards are completely fucking stupid. They're a silly contrivance from a silly movie franchise, mostly there as a surface to place a prominent Mattel logo. Can we, as a society, move on?
posted by Sys Rq at 7:08 AM on June 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
Well, OK. But can we at least agree that we're going to make the double-tie thing happen?
posted by metaBugs at 7:20 AM on June 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
posted by metaBugs at 7:20 AM on June 24, 2015 [7 favorites]
Yes.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:34 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Sys Rq at 7:34 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Great, something else for yahoos to clog up the sidewalk with.
At least it isn't in your yard.
I'm still waiting on factory floors or shipping depots to have these systems in place to make pushing around large things easier.
posted by Atreides at 8:17 AM on June 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
At least it isn't in your yard.
I'm still waiting on factory floors or shipping depots to have these systems in place to make pushing around large things easier.
posted by Atreides at 8:17 AM on June 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
I can't handle a regular skate board. Adding hover capabilities is essentially guaranteeing me a quick but painful death.
posted by tommasz at 8:31 AM on June 24, 2015
posted by tommasz at 8:31 AM on June 24, 2015
No, it won't be a problem, I already jumped ahead and checked just to be sure that we—oh, shit, I've said to much.
Glad to see spelling has gone descriptivist in the future, as well it should! ;D
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:36 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Glad to see spelling has gone descriptivist in the future, as well it should! ;D
posted by Celsius1414 at 8:36 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Will someone just figure out anti-gravity already? GEESH!
posted by pashdown at 8:37 AM on June 24, 2015
posted by pashdown at 8:37 AM on June 24, 2015
I'm still waiting on factory floors or shipping depots to have these systems in place to make pushing around large things easier.
They're expensive, and fail problematically. Wheels and workers are cheap.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:38 AM on June 24, 2015
They're expensive, and fail problematically. Wheels and workers are cheap.
posted by leotrotsky at 8:38 AM on June 24, 2015
Okay, you know what? Hoverboards are completely fucking stupid. They're a silly contrivance from a silly movie franchise, mostly there as a surface to place a prominent Mattel logo. Can we, as a society, move on?
Listen, if people aren't complaining about hoverboards, they're just go back to complaining about flying fucking cars again.
Be thankful for small mercies
posted by leotrotsky at 8:40 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Listen, if people aren't complaining about hoverboards, they're just go back to complaining about flying fucking cars again.
Be thankful for small mercies
posted by leotrotsky at 8:40 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Doesn't no friction in this case mean no turning? Seems like it might be an issue.
posted by doctor_negative at 8:45 AM on June 24, 2015
posted by doctor_negative at 8:45 AM on June 24, 2015
Atreides -- I'm still waiting on factory floors or shipping depots to have these systems in place to make pushing around large things easier.
Hover pallet jacks and the like already work. No magnets, just a lot of directed compressed air.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Hover pallet jacks and the like already work. No magnets, just a lot of directed compressed air.
posted by nathan_teske at 8:49 AM on June 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
Glad to see spelling has gone descriptivist in the future
I shouldn't be telling you this, but a few notable things happen between now and October:
- Major shortage in circles leads to "O Conservation Act", a federal mandate of which one component is the elimination of "too" as a qualifier. We also say "the mon" now. Don't bring it up in polite conversation until at least 2016, though; when October comes around it will still have had been to son.
- Reaganbot launched, reacquires office of POTUS by force in temporary coup, before suffering a critical systems failure. Microsoft disclaims all responsibility despite Reaganbot's insistence on using "bing" as a verb during national addresses.
- A pair of German scientists get nominated for Nobel prize in physics for using the LHC to, however briefly, make "fetch" happen.
posted by cortex at 8:58 AM on June 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
I shouldn't be telling you this, but a few notable things happen between now and October:
- Major shortage in circles leads to "O Conservation Act", a federal mandate of which one component is the elimination of "too" as a qualifier. We also say "the mon" now. Don't bring it up in polite conversation until at least 2016, though; when October comes around it will still have had been to son.
- Reaganbot launched, reacquires office of POTUS by force in temporary coup, before suffering a critical systems failure. Microsoft disclaims all responsibility despite Reaganbot's insistence on using "bing" as a verb during national addresses.
- A pair of German scientists get nominated for Nobel prize in physics for using the LHC to, however briefly, make "fetch" happen.
posted by cortex at 8:58 AM on June 24, 2015 [9 favorites]
No, it won't be a problem, I already jumped ahead and checked just to be sure that we—oh, shit, I've said to much.
Glad to see spelling has gone descriptivist in the future, as well it should! ;D
Actually what's happening is two rival teams of time travelers keep going back to the future and changing "to" to "too" and back again, over and over, like the killing Hitler thing. Apparently "to" is the least bad option. Either that or the edit window closed to early.
posted by chavenet at 11:00 AM on June 24, 2015
Glad to see spelling has gone descriptivist in the future, as well it should! ;D
Actually what's happening is two rival teams of time travelers keep going back to the future and changing "to" to "too" and back again, over and over, like the killing Hitler thing. Apparently "to" is the least bad option. Either that or the edit window closed to early.
posted by chavenet at 11:00 AM on June 24, 2015
"to" is unstable. This is consistent with rumours of our divergence from the canonical timeline in December 2012.
posted by Phssthpok at 11:18 AM on June 24, 2015
posted by Phssthpok at 11:18 AM on June 24, 2015
For a while they tried to communicate the ambiguity with to2 but after that spawned a couple of pretty nasty Zalgo-class outbreaks that got nixed.
posted by cortex at 11:36 AM on June 24, 2015
posted by cortex at 11:36 AM on June 24, 2015
Why don't they just make the whole time machine out of dead Hitlers?
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:48 PM on June 24, 2015
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:48 PM on June 24, 2015
And every gas station can sell liquid nitrogen to all the kids.
posted by Old Timer at 2:05 PM on June 24, 2015
posted by Old Timer at 2:05 PM on June 24, 2015
It surprises me that Lexus would even imply they're making hoverboards. Sure, you can get a plank of wood to float with liquid nitrogen and magnets but put a full grown man on it and you've just got a board. I'd be surprised if they could get a chihuahua to glide five feet with one of these. This is a gimmick to drum up publicity for Lexus, and stands zero chance of even a single prototype working.
posted by zardoz at 2:55 PM on June 24, 2015
posted by zardoz at 2:55 PM on June 24, 2015
I really dug that music.
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:18 PM on June 24, 2015
posted by turbid dahlia at 3:18 PM on June 24, 2015
I'm thinking that hover skates might be easier to control. Build in "toes" in the front and back from which to launch from and brake. The other skate stays flat and provides negligible resistance.
Because of inverse-square I'm not sure how much it might affect (the initial part of) jumping. But landing would decelerate as the closer the generators are to the copper surface, the greater the repellent force. This could be an insane kangaroo hop enabling saltatory form of locomotion.
Overtop non-ferrous conductive surfaces for as long as the cold holds out (pending better materials).
posted by porpoise at 11:04 PM on June 24, 2015
Because of inverse-square I'm not sure how much it might affect (the initial part of) jumping. But landing would decelerate as the closer the generators are to the copper surface, the greater the repellent force. This could be an insane kangaroo hop enabling saltatory form of locomotion.
Overtop non-ferrous conductive surfaces for as long as the cold holds out (pending better materials).
posted by porpoise at 11:04 PM on June 24, 2015
Handheld remote control, obvs.
posted by ostranenie at 6:04 AM on June 25, 2015
posted by ostranenie at 6:04 AM on June 25, 2015
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posted by snuffleupagus at 6:25 AM on June 24, 2015 [1 favorite]