The World's First Hoverboard Is (Almost) Here

The World's First Hoverboard Is (Almost) Here

By

Time to throw out your archaic scooter. Los Gatos-based Hendo is introducing the world's first real hoverboard!


Levitating at one inch off the ground, the magic behind the board lies in its four disc-shaped engines, which induce a magnetic field below the rider that provides lift. While primarily intended to be self-propelled, the actions which stabilize the board can also be used to drive it so that a 200-pound man can easily zoom around town, as long as he keeps his feet on the grips.

Greg Henderson, the mind behind the futuristic invention, first began tinkering with hover technology in 1989, inspired not by the Green Goblin or Back to the Future II, but the Loma Prieta earthquake—he thought that hovering buildings could better withstand earthquakes. 

Today, Hendo's business plan doesn't end with the glitzy levitating board; his company hopes to develop different types of magnetic technologies to help builders, engineering firms, and anyone else who might need to hover something.

“That’s why we picked the hoverboard first: to capture that attention,” Henderson told the New York Times. “If one in 10 people realize there is another use for this stuff, that would be a great success.”

If you're looking to live out any Marty McFly fantasies, a pledge of $10,000 on Hendo's Kickstarter page will get you a board of your own.

Check out the board in action below:

Related Articles
Now Playing at SF Symphony
View this profile on Instagram

7x7 (@7x7bayarea) • Instagram photos and videos

Neighborhoods
From Our Partners