We bet that when you saw pro skater Ross McGouran levitating on what could make for the world’s first functional hoverboard, you thought it doesn’t look like such a great deal. If it weren't for Lexus’ details on their project, we would have thought the same. In fact, this piece of device is quite a marvel.
McGouran may have started skating when he was only 7-years-old, but you should know the British pro did much more than just have a great day at the skate park. As a matter of fact, he did quite an outstanding job advising Toyota’s luxury vehicle division. And to make sure everybody understands what happened, Lexus just released two videos with the science behind the stunt. You know the feeling when an illusionist unveils his secrets? It’s something similar.
Initially, the plan was to have just one straight ramp scientists would create with the help of superconducting materials. But Lexus wanted more from the stunt, so they added a bit of spice and pepper. We’re not here to spoil the videos we listed below, but we’d like to mention a couple of technical details around Mart McFly’s dream come true.
First of all you need to know that the Hoverboard truly is skating on water, only that instead of some weird sorcery, we’re looking at a magnetic field build underneath the surface of the water. Then, you should also know it took them a year and a half to finish the project.
Up to 200 meters (656 ft) of magnetic track was transported to Barcelona from the Dresden facility to lay beneath the hover park surface to create the dynamic test.
The technology behind this toy features two ‘cryostats’, that are reservoirs in which superconducting material is kept at -197 degrees though immersion in liquid nitrogen. The board is then placed on a track that contains permanent magnets. How cool is that, right?
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