It must be immediately qualified that this news is not a hoax, unlike previous claims of the creation of an actual, functioning hoverboard. Lexus has indeed made a truly levitating hoverboard, which somehow affirms that "Back to the Future Part II" projection that hoverboards will emerge in 2015.
The groundbreaking innovation was unveiled via a video posted on YouTube Tuesday.
"The video is short, and doesn't show the user actually riding it, but we do see the hoverboard, called SLIDE, hovering above the ground just before a skateboarder ditches his traditional board and hops on," Mashable observed.
"The Lexus hoverboard at first appears to be the magnetic kind that requires a metal riding surface," the tech news source went on to say. "However, the hoverboard appears to be floating in an outside skate park - a space that usually has concrete flooring."
Lexus has taken the liberty of confirming the legitimacy of this invention by featuring it on its promotional site, although not much information has been shared about the hoverboard by the car maker. However, Lexus had revealed that the device "features the iconic Lexus spindle grille signature shape, using materials found in the luxury car brand, from the high tech to the natural bamboo."
Sounds like Lexus is exploring wheel-less ways of going from one place to another.
While the Slide appears to work, it can reportedly only do so in "a controlled environment," USA Today said.
"Lexus said the test hoverboard in its 'Amazing in Motion' campaign generates magnetic levitation by combining the effects of liquid nitrogen-cooled superconductors and permanent magnets," the news source said.
The report went on to note that the levitation seen in the video is due also to the presence of magnets under the surface of the ground where the Slide hovered.
Lexus then explained that it will test the device in "a similarly controlled environment in Barcelona, Spain."
This is not the first time that anyone has attempted to produce a hoverboard. In fact, one was announced last year, the Hendo Hoverboard.
"The Hendo uses the same kind of electromagnetic field technology that floats MagLev trains -- meaning it will only levitate over non-ferrous metals like copper or aluminum," Engadget said.
When tested, it was found that the device has a tendency to "drift aimlessly," as it has no propulsion system, which necessitates much practice to get the hang of using such an innovation.
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