Hoverboard
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A Hoverboard (Also known as Hover Board) is a fictional futuristic hovering deck, resembling a skateboard without wheels or trucks. The name is a portmanteau of the words hover and skateboard. They were first introduced in the films Back to the Future Part II in 1989, and Back to the Future Part III in 1990, where Mattel made a product branded Hoverboard. Attempts to produce the experience of a Hoverboard with available technology have involved hovercraft (or air-cushion) vehicles.
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[edit] Back to the Future
In the Back to the Future series, the Hoverboard model was Mattel's hover-device, invented between the years 2000 and 2015. These devices were capable of floating above any surface including water, but only the "Pitbull" type could be propelled successfully over water. Those who have seen the movie will remember the trouble that Marty had with the "Mattel" hoverboard on water, while another model—named the "Pitbull"—had no Hoverboard branding but featured two jets on the rear for forward propulsion. The original prop Hoverboard was on display at the Planet Hollywood in Beverly Hills until August 2000, when it was auctioned to a private party. Director Robert Zemeckis once joked during an interview that Hoverboards were real, however Hoverboards, as seen in the movies, are not real.
[edit] Real world
Several companies have drawn on currently available hovercraft technology to create Hoverboard-like products. Future Horizons produces an air-powered 5 ft long 2 ft wide board-shaped "Hoverboard". Alternatively, the Airboard is a disc shaped hovercraft a bit over 6 ft in diameter, but does not resemble the Hoverboard depicted in Back to the Future.
The Mythbusters built a successful design of hoverboard using a large surfboard and leaf blowers in 2005.
[edit] Technology
There are several theories about how the Hoverboard could work. Space Magnetics (originally named Hovertech) experimented with ferrofluid force fields [1], attempting to ionize a column of air interacting with a magnetic fluid, forming a bubble which the board could rest on. This technology was never made to work, as the ferrofluid simply stuck to the sides of its casing when activated. [cite?]
Another possible way is by use of geomagnetics, the act of repelling against the earth's magnetic field. So far there have been no significant advances toward completing a working device that can do this. It would require a large magnetic repulsion, as the Earth's magnetic field is very weak.
[edit] Popular culture
Hoverboards have made appearances in several computer and video games, such as Hoverboard ASDF, Kid Chameleon, Sonic Riders, EyeToy: Antigrav, There (internet service), TrickStyle, Unreal Tournament 2007 and Rocket Power: Beach Bandits.
The Playstation 2 game Airblade was based completely around a hoverboard using next generaton anti-gravity technology.
Rumors circulated in 2001 that inventor Dean Kamen's new invention, codenamed Ginger, was a transportation device resembling the Hoverboard. In reality Ginger was the Segway Human Transporter, a self-balancing dual electric servo, stand-up scooter.
On the television show MythBusters, Jamie Hyneman and his team built a makeshift hovercraft, dubbed the Hyneman Hoverboard, from a surfboard and leaf-blowers.
On an episode of Ben 10, Ben receives a hoverboard as a sort of gift from an alien belonging to Diamondhead's race.
On an episode of Da Ali G Show, Ali G meets with institutional investors and suggests that they begin to market a hoverboard (which was just a skateboard with the wheels removed) -- after they declined his suggestion to market the Ice-Cream Glove.
In the anime Eureka Seven, Renton rides a bodyboard sized hovering surfboard that utilizes an atmospheric energy phenomenon, called trapar, as a means of lift and propulsion.
In the short lived series The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, Jonny has a hoverboard that he uses frequently.
In the animated series Get Ed, Ed's primary mode of transportation is a transforming hoverboard.
In the video game Final Fantasy VIII, the character Zell Dincht is briefly seen riding a hoverboard-like device.
Xbox Live Arcade game Street Trace NYC is a futuristic hoverboard combat racing game.
[edit] See also
- Hovertech
- Optomagnetic Suspension
- Airblade
In the Uglies trilogy by Scott Westerfeld, hoverboards are featured prominently.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Future Horizons Air powered miniature hovercraft
- Space Magnetics Experiments with gravity repelling technology and magnetic shielding
- Jason Bradbury DIY Hoverboard: Walk-through
- Hoverboard Museum Examples of Hoverboards designed for There
