Are you wondering where the hoverboards came from? Check out this link to learn about who invented hoverboards and why.

Are you wondering where the hoverboards came from? Check out this link to learn about who invented hoverboards and why. Who Invented the Hoverboard and Why?

Hoverboards have been around for a while. Their popularity has increased tremendously as they are quickly becoming the preferred method of transportation for most people within urban environments. Since their mass adoption, they have had their ups and downs, especially with fires, prompting some governments to ban them or have very strict production measures to improve quality. But these self-balancing scooters keep on getting better and better.

They are on an evolution streak, and, with the advancement of technology, you can expect to have more superior hoverboards with better functionalities in the future. But do you know where hoverboards came from? Are you aware of their inventor and his main motivation for wanting to come up with such a self-balancing scooter? Keep reading to find out more.

The Origin of Hoverboards

In 1967, M.K Joseph published a science fiction novel called "The Hole in the Zero" that popularized the term "hoverboard." The name would later feature in Texas Monthly Magazine in the 1980s. It was later to be popularized by the Back to the Future Trilogy. The term, as it is being used today, can be used to refer to a number of technologies that attempt to describe a device that was featured in either sci-fi movies or books.

It is worth noting that self-balancing scooters are also known as hoverboards, and it is common to find the two being used interchangeably. For many years, the current crop of hoverboards that we have today has been described as Segway, but without handles.

Meet Shane Chen

Shane Chen is the man attributed to the development of hoverboards that you see people using on the streets. He is a robust inventor whose inventions don’t start or end with the hoverboards alone. He has also invented unicycles, skateboards, and a myriad of fitness devices throughout the decades of his invention spree. The inventor is originally from Beijing but moved to the US in the 1980s, where he has continued to work as a scientific-instruments designer as well as a developer for his products.

The journey toward the current hoverboards for Shane Chen can be traced back to 2011 when he invented the Hovertrax. This was a simple motorized board that had wheels. The boards sold millions of units, and it cleared the way for the current crop of hoverboards. However, his invention of the hoverboards has continued to face stiff competition from Chinese knock-off factories who are keen on producing similar products in mass, hence, ending up flooding the market.

Features of Hoverboards

Now that you know something about the inventor, it is also important that you learn a thing or two about self-balancing scooters. Whether you are going for a black hoverboard or a red hoverboard, they have certain design elements that you need to know about so that you not only know how to choose correctly but also have an idea of how it operates. With that said, here is a brief look at some of the most important features of a hoverboard.

The Batteries

This is one of the most important components of a hoverboard. Due to the fires that some brands of red hoverboards had, the batteries became a vital consideration for anyone who was thinking of buying them. All hoverboards come with lithium batteries which can be charged from time to time to sustain the operations of the unit. To have a great experience with self-balancing scooters, you should choose brands and models fitted with high-quality batteries that you can use for a long time and not have to charge every now and then.

Speed Sensors

Whenever you step on the self-balancing scooter, the next task is always to learn how to control the speed. Before you can think about controlling the speed, you must first have the proper balance on the black hoverboard. Hoverboards are normally designed with speed sensors that allow you to control the speed according to your immediate needs. How you move your body will relay to the sensors your speed requirements at that point in time.

Pressure Pads

Pressure pads refer to the space on top of the hoverboard where you normally place your feet when you want to ride the board. The pads feature two rubbers situated beneath and the function of the pressure pads is to help you gain proper balance. The moment you place your feet on the pads, the pressure pads will get triggered, sending a signal to the LED sensors. Through this, the self-balancing scooter will know that it needs to start operating.

LED Lights

Some users usually think that the function of the LED lights is just to make the black hoverboards look pretty. Well, this may be partly true, but that is not the sole function of LED lights. The lights are usually available in a variety of colors, and their main function is to help to advance the vision and improve visibility when using hoverboards at night.

Electric Motors

These are very special components of these self-balancing scooters. They are the main source of “power” for the scooter and the main force responsible for pushing the hoverboards forward.

Gyroscope

Most of the hoverboards you will find in use today are usually fixed with two gyroscopes. The function of the gyroscopes is to receive and relay information from the wheel to the logic board. This is one of the most vital components of the self-balancing scooter, without which the hoverboard may never function. The kind of information that the gyroscope receives and transmits is in the form of a tilt, rpm, and acceleration which all relate to the behavior of the user.

A Steel Frame

The steel frame is primarily for protecting the whole hoverboard and giving it some shape so that it doesn’t appear ugly and less appealing. However, the frame can be manipulated to create different designs and visual appeal. However, its primary function is to protect the entire self-balancing scooter.