DailyDirt: Hoverboards Are Real!
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
The "magic" of magnets have been observed for quite some time, but it's not actually an easily explained phenomenon that magnets can repel and attract in various configurations. Still, we can take advantage of this property of magnets, and create some amazing tricks of levitation that seemingly defy gravity. We could have a commercial hoverboard for kids to play with (as an actual toy) pretty soon, and we could potentially have some other even cooler devices based on "hover" technology. If only we could get a Mr. Fusion device together....- The Hendo hoverboard is a product available for pre-order (just $10,000!) -- and it can hover on non-ferrous metal surfaces. There have been pranks about Back To The Future hoverboards before, but this device is patent pending and appears to work in demonstrations. According to the patent application, it appears to rely on motors for spinning a Halbach array of magnets to maintain controlled magnetic levitation (similar to the Inductrack concept) -- and could be useful for isolating buildings from earthquakes. [url]
- If you want to build your own levitating bed (and float like a frozen-in-carbonite Han Solo), just follow a few easy steps. And be VERY careful handling those super strong magnets. [url]
- The Northeast Maglev company wants to connect NYC and DC with a high speed train that could be built by 2024. A floating train project crossing that corridor would costs tens of billions, and it needs to overcome plenty of bureaucratic/political hurdles as well. But wouldn't it be nice to get from NYC to Washington in about an hour? [url]
Filed Under: halbach array, high speed rail, hover technology, hoverboard, maglev, magnetic levitation, magnets, transportation
Companies: arx pax, hendo, northeast maglev
