• Question: i have heard that people have been making hover boards. If this is true when will we be getting them

    Asked by cc maraca to Alan, Becky, Jo, Sankar, Sarah on 6 Mar 2015.
    • Photo: Alan McCue

      Alan McCue answered on 6 Mar 2015:


      I believe there is a prototype hover board that has been tested somewhere in the world but I don’t think it works very well yet. I suspect we could be a few years away from being able buy one yet. However, it is interesting that a number of companies are now researching cars which drive themselves! This may be the next big technology we encounter.

    • Photo: Sarah Kirk

      Sarah Kirk answered on 6 Mar 2015:


      I know right? I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to get a hoverboard!
      I think the main problem with trying to make a hoverboard is energy. It takes a lot of energy to lift a person off the ground and keep them there (ever tried to do a chin up?) It would need a huge battery, or a cord connected to the mains, neither of which are very practical.

      The link below shows a hoverboard using magnets. This is also limited as you can only use it on a special surface.
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30531120

    • Photo: Becky Gregory

      Becky Gregory answered on 6 Mar 2015:


      Indeed, they are working on making hoverboards at the moment, but as people have said, only on a small scale using magnets I think. However, for any Back To The Future fans out there, Nike trainers with self-tying laces will be available towards the end of this year! They have a built-in weight sensor, which people are hoping will make them compatible with hoverboards in the future somehow!

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