Fans of “Back to the Future”, or futuristic technology, or just really awesome gadgets received incredible news from Lexus the car manufacturer this week. Lexus has released a short video of their Lexus Hoverboard, “SLIDE” which they are claiming after 18 months of development is finally a working product. While the details remain vague about the new device, they have released some information, and unlike other hoverboard videos to have been released in the last few years, this doesn’t appear to be a hoax or a publicity stunt to garner more attention for Lexus.
The mechanics behind the impossible
Inventors have yet to make a hoverboard that is operational on anything but a metal surface, and Lexus is no exception. “SLIDE”, similar to other hoverboard design such as the Hendo hoverboards, uses magnetism to power the levitation and move the device. However according to the website where they have released the teaser trailer for “SLIDE” they aren’t just using any old magnets, “the Lexus Hoverboard uses magnetic levitation to achieve frictionless movement. Liquid nitrogen cooled super conductors and permanent magnets combine to allow Lexus to create the impossible.” Lexus Hover technology moves beyond what was previously thought possible for transportation in skateboard sized form.
Why spend the time to create a functional Lexus hoverboard?
Lexus hoverboard technology is all part of their ongoing “Amazing in Motion” project, to design what was previously thought impossible, or has never been done before. Spearheading the “SLIDE” project is the Lexus chief engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi. In the video he gives a kind of mission statement in regards to the creation of the Lexus hoverboard stating, “There is no such thing as impossible, it’s just a matter of figuring out how”. While the details are vague, Lexus promises to release more information to their website about the “SLIDE” periodically as there are developments. 2015 is the year that Marty Mcfly travels to in back to the future II, and we may not have everything that they promised us in that movie today, but thanks to Lexus hover technology and the creation of “SLIDE”, we are one step closer to fulfilling our childhood dreams.
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