• VIDEO: Space firm creates a 'real hoverboard'
    20 replies, posted
[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35201724#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa[/url]
36 fans? I don't even want to think about how much noise this thing must make. And the fact that it can only fly for 6 minutes at a time makes me doubt this project will ever really take off
everyone wants to be Marty mcfly edit: also why would anyone buy this it's literally no better than a bicycle or scooter would which probably be cheaper anyways
[QUOTE=Scorpo;49420092]everyone wants to be Marty mcfly edit: also why would anyone buy this it's literally no better than a bicycle or scooter would which probably be cheaper anyways[/QUOTE] Technology son. In order for things to get good they may have to start off as shit. Everyone once in awhile this concept takes off and people try and see if technology has progressed enough to make hoverboards feasible.
[QUOTE=Karmah;49420115]Technology son. In order for things to get good they may have to start off as shit. Everyone once in awhile this concept takes off and people try and see if technology has progressed enough to make hoverboards feasible.[/QUOTE] I suppose but until it costs as much as a bike or scooter and doesn't need a $100 charger and can fly for hours I'm not buying it
[QUOTE=Thunderbolt;49420056]36 fans? I don't even want to think about how much noise this thing must make. And the fact that it can only fly for 6 minutes at a time makes me doubt this project will ever really take off[/QUOTE]As the technology gets more efficient and more cheaper given time I'm sure we'll see an actual "hoverboard" in our lifetimes, most likely sometime in the next 10 years.
What's really holding "hoverboards" - as well as a ton of other technology - back is a lack of any good energy solutions. Gimme a battery that's 10x as energy efficient as a standard LiPo in the same form factor and I'll give you a hoverboard.
I don't get why everyone wants a hoverboard.
The only issue with all of these new hoverboard prototypes springing up is that they all seem super awkward to handle and utterly useless compared to traditional skateboards. There is no grip with the surface. Like the magnetic hoverboard thing that only floats above ferromagnetic surfaces. You just have someone push you and you slide forever with no control over where you go, no way to brake or steer. This thing, it's a bunch of fans strapped to your feet. It seems like it takes full concentration to just keep yourself hovering on the spot without falling off. Maybe they iron it out with time, but there's still the part where you need to recharge it etc. Even if they figure out segway-type gyro controls, skateboards will always be infinitely more practical/fun. Similar to how cars are overwhelmingly more popular over hovercraft in motorsports.
[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;49420346]I don't get why everyone wants a hoverboard.[/QUOTE] Because they're [I]rad as hell[/I]
As previously stated, you've gotta start somewhere. Hovercraft operate under different principals than the type of hovering achieved with this board. With some more prototyping it could lead to a new class of hovercraft as well - with better performance characteristics. A good quadcopter can fly like it's on rails and stop on a dime, who's to say with some development hoverboards and hovercrafts couldn't do the same?
Quadcopters are so nimble because they're so small and light. Model hovercraft are also very agile. When you scale things up, they get unwieldy.
I think a mix of magnets and fans would be a better solution. But in that case, you'd be restricted to specific surfaces.
[QUOTE=Daemon White;49420906]I think a mix of magnets and fans would be a better solution. But in that case, you'd be restricted to specific surfaces.[/QUOTE] Well, electric fans are a mix of magnets and fans.
[QUOTE=Supacasey;49420324]What's really holding "hoverboards" - as well as a ton of other technology - back is a lack of any good energy solutions. Gimme a battery that's 10x as energy efficient as a standard LiPo in the same form factor and I'll give you a hoverboard.[/QUOTE] more like 1000x, that shit would probably kill a battery tbh the biggest thing is that the battery needs to be REALLY light
:snip:
[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;49420346]I don't get why everyone wants a hoverboard.[/QUOTE] Back to the Future II jokes. Legit that's the only thing I can think of. At least in the last year we've reduced the size from a giant quadrocopter with a platform to a giant green domino.
[QUOTE=pentium;49423088]Back to the Future II jokes. Legit that's the only thing I can think of. At least in the last year we've reduced the size from a giant quadrocopter with a platform to a giant green domino.[/QUOTE] Yeah honestly, compared to the other fan-based hoverboards this lego brick seems like a big step forward.
[QUOTE=TheNerdPest14;49420346]I don't get why everyone wants a hoverboard.[/QUOTE] why the hell WOULDN'T you want one?
[I]Fucking finally.[/I]
I wonder what'd happen if people focused on beefing up bladeless fans. Unless those are fans that have the blades hidden in the base or something.
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