Airboard
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The Airboard is the first commercially-marketed single-person hovercraft/hoverboard.
In the movie Back to the Future: Part II Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is being chased by a gang of hooligans on hoverboards. These hoverboards look like flying skateboards that have some kind of magnetic propulsion system. They don't look like conventional hovercraft at all, but the hovercraft depicted in that movie served as an inspiration to Kevin Inkster, who has invented the world's first commercial hoverboard scooter, called the Airboard.
The Airboard operate just like any other hovercraft, which is basically a vehicle that is supported and propelled by a cushion of air. In the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics Inkster showed off his space-age looking Airboard by riding it around the Olympic stadium.
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How it's built
The Airboard is just a small version of a conventional hovercraft that is ridden standing up. It uses the same air cushion principles to glide just above the ground. However, there are some differences; for instance, the Airboard is unable to hover over water like the hovercraft, and it uses a drive wheel, which touches the ground, to accelerate.
The components
- Shell - The fiberglass platform used for the rider to stand on
- Engine and fan - Suspended under the shell to provide the air cushion and thrust
- Rubber skirt - Used to form an air cushion under the vehicle
- Friction drive wheel - A wheel that comes into contact with the ground to provide added acceleration
- Handlebar - Includes two control levers, one for engine/fan speed and one for the friction drive clutch
Specs
Dimensions
- Diameter: 1.6 m (6 ft 3 in)
- Height incl. handle: 1.2 m (4 ft 0 in)
- Deck height: 30 cm (1ft 0 ins)
Control & Performance
- Top speed asphalt: 25 km/h (15 mph) subject to conditions
- Incline/ascent: 30 degrees
- Fuel: 5 liter (1.3 US gal) gasoline (85 Octane unleaded)
- Total payload, including rider: 120 kg (220 lb)
- Operating time: 1 h on full tank
Controlling the Airboard
The fan underneath the shell of the vehicle provides both the cushion of air and the stream of air that exits through the back of the vehicle to provide thrust. To accelerate, the rider shifts his or her weight forward to allow more air to exit the back of the vehicle. By shifting backward, the rider will activate the drive wheel. The drive wheel actually contacts the ground to move tha Airboard forward.
Controlling the Airboard is done by shifting your weight from side-to-side, similar to how you would ride a skateboard or surfboard. By varying the amount of weight transfer, the driver can make sharp or soft turns. Sliding and 360-degree turns are also possible.
In order to stop, you simply release the levers on the handlebar, at which point the board will slide to a stop.
External links
- The Airboard Website (http://www.airboard.com.au/)
- Arbortech (http://www.arbortech.com.au/)