Hoverboards have been in the news quite a bit recently, typically due to priests getting reprimanded for using them in service, an over abundance on people getting sent to the hospital from falling down and the fact that the most popular brand has been exploding or catching fire.
The thing is, this 'hoverboard' making the news isn't even a real hoverboard! It doesn't hover and it has wheels! This is not a hoverboard.
Luckily, there's a real hoverboard coming in 2016 – it actually levitates. US-based Arca Space Corporation has created what appears to be a hovering mattress called the ArcaBoard.
It technically isn't a mattress, considering the hoverboard packs 272 horsepower and is propelled by 36 ducted fans spinning at 45,000rpm. The ArcaBoard is powered by a set of Li-Po batteries and hovers at about 1ft off of the ground.
Fortunately for everyone that is accident prone, the ArcaBoard is limited to 12mph.
Unfortunately, you won't be hovering for long. The ArcaBaord comes in two versions, one for lighter riders (up to 176lb) and another for heavier riders (up to 242lb). The lighter model can over for about six minutes in one charge and travel around 1.2 miles. Whereas the heavier model hovers for three minutes.
The creators of the ArcaBoard say that the board can hover over any terrain, including water.
You can pre-order this sucker right now for $19,900, but don't forget to purchase the docking station for $4,500 to make the board charge in 35 minutes instead of six hours. The ArcaBoard is set to release on April 15, 2016.
[via ArsTech]
