The ArcaBoard is a real hoverboard that works on most surfaces but...
There have been tons of hoverboard projects revealed this year, but thus far, none have worked like the hoverboards from Back to the Future 2. The ArcaBoard might just change that. There's a catch though...
It's not the exactly how we'd have preferred our hoverboards, but since it's pretty much the closest thing to Marty's hoverboard right now, we'll take it!
With less than a day left till the end of 2015, we can't help but look back on it as a year of heartbreak. The reason? Hoverboards.
Despite numerous contenders to the name like the Hendo and Lexus hoverboards, none of them work like the ones we saw in Back to the Future II. Only being able to hover on specially made surfaces kind of ruined that. Sure, the DIY Mr Hoverboard works like the real deal, but who owns leaf blowers in Singapore? Not to mention, Mr Hoverboard looks ugly as sin.
It's time to add another contender to the list, though this one has a bit more potential.
Introducing the ArcaBoard.
Notice anything different about the ArcaBoard (other than its looks)? Yup, it's working on a variety of surfaces and can actually noticeably hover instead of barely touching the ground like the other hoverboards. In fact, it can hover up to 30 cm from the ground!
The ArcaBoard can lift up to 110KG in weight, hover up to a height of 30 cm and can go as fast as 20KM/H. It measures 145 x 76 x 15 cm and has a weight of 82KG and requires two persons to carry it when it's not working. If staying balanced on the board is a problem, you can use the board's app to steer it around. Considering its size and lift capability, we got to wondering if the ArcaBoard might be more of a magic carpet than a hoverboard, especially since there's even an app that makes it move.
If you've seen the video, you'd know that the hoverboard isn't using some magnets, it goes back to the basics and uses fans to provide its lift. Lots and lots of fans. 35 of them in total. In fact, the ArcaBoard reminds us of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier than a hoverboard. Still, the most important thing is that it works...for 6 minutes at a time.
Remember when we said that there was a catch? Yeah, the 6 minutes running time is it. Of course, since this is just the first iteration of the device, future versions will probably have a longer battery life than that. ARCA Space Corporation (the company making the boards) helpfully mentions that it only takes 35 minutes to fully charge it.
If the 6 minutes battery life doesn't faze you and you don't mind riding what looks like a giant sponge, you can pre-order the ArcaBoard for US$19,900 now, with delivery scheduled for April 2016.
Source: ARCA Space Corporation
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