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ICYMI: A real hoverboard for 20K, the worm robot and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-511213{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-511213, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-511213{width:570px;display:block;}try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-511213").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Scientists have built a robot that is controlled by software directly modeled on a worm's brain, near cyborg-style. ARCA has built a hoverboard they say can actually hover above ground for up to six minutes and is being sold for $20,000. Meanwhile the U.S. Marines are discharging a robot for being a bit too loud for stealthy applications: The LS3 is being put out to pasture.
Pre-order this vaporware hoverboard now for only $19,900
We don't like that those small, self-balancing and oft-exploding scooter things have come to be called "hoverboards" any more than you do. After all, they don't even hover. Today, though, ARCA Space Corporation claims to be the latest company to have developed something worthy of the name, though it's not what Back to the Future promised us exactly. If Lexus' version of the hoverboard was an exercise in physics (using quantum levitation on grand scale), then ARCA's is an exercise in engineering, and elegant it is not. The ArcaBoard uses good, old-fashioned upthrust to float in mid-air, with 36 electic fans kicking out 272 horsepower. And one can (almost certainly not) be yours for the meagre pre-order price of $19,900.
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No 'hoverboard' is safe from UK Trading Standards
"Hoverboards" are getting a pretty bad rap of late, and not just because their common name is annoyingly misleading. Several UK retailers have stopped selling the things due to serious concerns over battery safety -- they have a habit of spontaneously combusting, you see -- with Amazon even advising customers to bin their potentially dodgy models. A number of airlines won't carry them, the US is scrambling to regulate the fad, and earlier this month UK Trading Standards announced it had seized over 15,000 unsafe devices at sea ports, airports and postal hubs since mid-October. This hasn't seemed to dent their popularity much, however, with Trading Standards telling BuzzFeed that figure has now spiked to 32,000 in just a few weeks.
Amazon tells customers to throw out unsafe 'hoverboards'
As a popular destination for self-balancing "hoverboards," Amazon needs to take its safety responsibilities seriously. The retailer has already pulled some models from its store until it can be proved their batteries and chargers are reliable, but now it's taking the unusual step of telling a small number of owners to throw them out. In an email, Amazon has warned US and UK customers that their hoverboard has been deemed "unsafe" and that they should "dispose" of it immediately.
Lucozade thief may also be first UK 'hoverboard' conviction
As an orange Lucozade addict, I can't help but quietly applaud the work of the Hoverboard Lucozade Bandit (hat tip to VICE for coining the name). Not just for his choice of loot, but for executing the most brazen raid in the history of the Mitcham Co-op. Who dares to ride a whirring, neon steed into a local shop, pick up an entire crate of the orange nectar, and pull off a masterful three-point turn before setting off down the road like nothing was amiss? The Hoverboard Lucozade Bandit, that's who. But alas, his 15 minutes of infamy are at an end, with the Met Police confirming he's been tracked down and charged. The Croydon native isn't only accused of theft (and failing to comply with a court order), though, but could be the first person in the UK ever convicted for riding a "hoverboard" on the pavement.
US officials investigate 'hoverboard' safety
If concern about "hoverboard" safety from airlines, Amazon and the UK wasn't enough, the US government is getting in on the action. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating reports of both fires (10 known so far) and falls (29) to determine whether or not the self-balancing transporters are safe. It'll push for voluntary standards if it finds any systemic problems, but there is the possibility of regulation if the industry doesn't get its act together.
Amazon pulls some 'hoverboards' over safety concerns
Airlines aren't the only ones nervous about "hoverboards" catching fire -- Amazon is pulling some of the self-balancing scooters until they're proven to be safe. Swagway (one of the better-known manufacturers) tells The Verge that the internet retailer wants all sellers to demonstrate that their devices meet the right battery and charger safety standards. Needless to say, those boards that don't make the cut won't be coming back. Swagway maintains that its own models are safe, but rivals like CoolReall and PhunkeeDuck might not be so lucky.
Airlines ban 'hoverboards' due to fire risk and safety concerns
Even if those self-balancing scooters called "hoverboards" become street legal in London, you might have a tough time taking one across the pond. A number of airlines has decided to ban them from flights after several reports came out that these devices can spontaneously catch fire, likely because of their lithium-ion batteries. In the past few days, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, JetBlue and Virgin America have announced their decision not to accept the scooters onboard. American Airlines, Delta and United followed suit, and we wouldn't be surprised if the list keeps growing.
Self-balancing skateboards are illegal in New York, too
If you ride a self-balancing skateboard in New York, you won't have just the seething hatred of those around you to deal with. A tweet from NYPD's 26th precinct, since deleted, pointed out that using the tech is illegal, and both IGN and Gothamist followed up with the relevant parts of state law. Apparently, Title 19, Chapter 1, Subchapter 3, Section 19-176.2 of New York's code actively prohibits such devices from being used in the streets. The legislation says that any "motorized scooter" that propels people with power, but can't be registered with the DMV, can't be taken out and about. If an official spots you, then you could face a fine of up to $500, although we'd politely suggest that they've got bigger fish to fry than an obnoxious Vine kid playing with their birthday present. [Image Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images]
London Mayor calls for UK to legalise hoverboards
Even though they can't actually levitate, "hoverboard" self-balancing scooters have become a huge hit. Celebrities are jumping on the two-wheeled bandwagon, either signing deals to promote the next big brand or attaching their name to one of their own. That's helped boost sales of the popular toy in the UK, but the law actually dictates that they can't be ridden in a public space.The Crown Prosecution Service says that the Highway Act 1835 limits hoverboard use on pavements, while various vehicle registration agencies won't licence or register them for road use. Riders can be fined up to £500 if caught doing so, but London Mayor Boris Johnson is making it his mission to legalise their use based on "intergenerational fairness."
Big toys for the big kid in all of us
Some of the toys we played with as children have grown up along with us and now they pack adult-sized fun. Memorable designs have bubbled up into lifestyle products with smarts, but most offer what we always loved them for: an action-packed thrill. Sure, we can drive real cars now, but that doesn't diminish the urge to drift on a motorized Big Wheel. Skateboards and pogo sticks have powered up over the years, too, and hoverboards can now actually hover. This week we pay tribute to the big kid inside each of us with a lineup of reinvented, rebuilt and improved versions of playtime classics. [Image: Local Motors]
ICYMI: Spider vehicle, a 3D-printed teeny tiny saw and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-308883{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-308883, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-308883{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-308883").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: A miniature circular saw printed on a 3D printer is about to be produced by a designer so that it actually cuts wood. Teeny tiny little thumbs best be careful. The Spider concept car by Swincar is out, climbing 50 degree inclines without a hitch and making everyone want one. Finally, the Lexus Hoverboard is shown actually being ridden in a new video, rather than just inside the promotional glamour-shot pieces we've seen so far. It looks just as cool as we'd hoped.
Lexus let skateboarders put its hoverboard to the test
After weeks of teasing, Lexus is finally showing off its latest Amazing in Motion project in full. The Slide video posted today shows skateboarders riding the company's superconducting hoverboard at a specially built skate park in Spain. Similar to the $10,000 Hendo hoverboard before it, this board only works if you have the combination of a liquid nitrogen cooled cryostat onboard and a special magnetic track, so no -- it's not for sale. As you can see in the video, skaters who got their crack at it pulled off some cool gliding tricks (including one across a stretch of water), but it's still not quite the same thing as the decks that they're used to, and seemed to have less control available than the Hendo board. Back to the Future it ain't, but it's real, and it's cool (-197°C).
Lexus will officially unveil its hoverboard on August 5th
On August 5th, Lexus will finally reveal its hoverboard, which has been in development for the past 18+ months, to the public. Let that sink in for a bit: Lexus has created a working hoverboard in 2015, the year Marty and Doc Brown jumped to in Back to the Future...! Unfortunately, we don't know if you'd be able to buy one before October 21st -- or at all, really -- but even if it does become available for purchase in the next few months, you can't ride it to a B2F anniversary screening. See, it can only levitate over metallic surfaces, so it's pretty much useless in most places. That's about the extent of what we know about the device, though Lexus is bound to divulge more info during the event.
ICYMI: Electric drag race, DIY hoverboard and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-561688{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-561688, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-561688{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-561688").style.display="none";}catch(e){} Today on In Case You Missed It: An electric car drag race showed some impressive stats for a standing start; FPV quadcopter races got official at the California State Fair and you can learn how to make a replica Back to the Future 2 hoverboard.
ICYMI: Street view climbing, a "real" hoverboard and more
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-880458{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-880458, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-880458{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-880458").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Today on In Case You Missed It: Tesla's teased a prototype car charging station powered by strangers' footsteps; Lexus released a video of a hoverboard that's "rideable now," (psst ... it still needs magnets and isn't as cool as this); and Google used mountain climbing's most famous men and women to take street view to Yosemite's El Capitan in this trippy video.
Lexus video teases a 'real' magnetic hoverboard
Yes, we know - it's 2015, the year Marty jumped to in Back to the Future 2 and you still don't have a hoverboard. Right on time, Lexus has presented the latest example from its "Amazing in Motion" series of video spectacles: the Lexus Hoverboard. As you can see in the video after the break, it certainly appears to hover, and smoke, but no one actually hops on the magnetically-levitating device for a ride. Gizmodo heard from the carmaker that this project has been in development over the last 18 months, but couldn't get more specific info on how it works.
Guy hoverboards across a Canadian lake and into history
No, this isn't some guerilla marketing campaign for Back to the Future's upcoming pseudo-anniversary. It's a world record-setting flight by Canadian inventor Catalin Alexandru Duru aboard a homebrew hoverboard. He recently piloted this prototype nearly 1000 feet across a Quebec lake to set the record. "The prototype can be used anywhere," Duru explains in the video below. "But is usually tested over water because of how dangerously high it can fly (which is ironic considering that the movie joked that it can't)." There aren't many details about the device available though it would appear he controls it by shifting his bodyweight back and forth like a geeky Green Goblin. There's also no word on when (or if) the device will ever make it to market -- no matter how hard you wish for it.
This DIY hoverboard combines ingenuity and four leaf blowers
Let's all just be honest here for a moment: Who among us hasn't wanted to strap an array of leaf blowers to our feet in hopes that we could float in mid-air. Oh. No? Well then, at least one person saw the untapped potential of those raucous foliage movers. According to CNET's Crave blog, Austin, Texas-based maker Ryan Craven got caught up in the commotion surrounding the heart-crushingly fake HUVr and decided to make his own using some elbow grease and those off-the-shelf yardwork tools.
Nexus 9, riding a real-life hoverboard and other stories you might've missed
That's right, folks. Our own Sean Buckley took Hendo's real-life Hoverboard for a spin, and yes, it was pretty awesome. But if that's not enough for you, we also reviewed Apple's new tablets and went hands-on with the Nexus 9 -- click on through for the rest of our news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
