Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Remember the hoverboard in Back to the Future II we’ve all been dreaming of?
Well, it’s real.
Carmaker Lexus actually created a real-life functional hoverboard, called SLIDE, that’s making hardcore fans of the science fiction film drool.
How does it work?
The board has “an insulated core, containing HTSLs (high temperature superconducting blocks). These are housed in cryostats – reservoirs of liquid nitrogen that cool the superconductors to -197°C.”
Because of its technology, the board, when placed above a magnetic track, hovers off the ground.
Terms only Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown can understand, I know, but simply put, the board can only float over magnets.
To make sure it actually works, Lexus built a magnetic skate park and tapped pro skateboarder Ross McGouran to take the gadget for a test ride.
As seen in the video, McGouran had a little difficulty staying on the board at first, but he soon got the hang of it — pulling off tricks that would make Marty McFly proud.
“I’ve spent 20 years skateboarding, but without friction, it feels like I’ve had to learn a whole new skill, particularly in the stance and balance you need to ride the hoverboard,” Mr McGouran said.
“The feeling of literally no friction and floating on air is hard to describe. It’s kind of like a science in yourself. You start to break it down. It starts to become less scary, less daunting, more fun.”
Unfortunately, Back to the Future fans, the hoverboard won’t work on normal concrete pavements. Plus, it is only a prototype, and people from Lexus said they have no plans of releasing it for sale.
Who knows, maybe in a few years they’ll have a change of heart. But just the simple fact that Lexus managed to make our dream into a reality is pretty awesome.
