Hoverboards, despite their name, do not actually hover above the ground. Instead, they are self-balancing scooters that use a combination of sensors, gyroscopes, motors, and a control system to maintain balance and enable movement.
How Hoverboards Work
- Balance and Sensors: Each wheel has its own gyroscope and tilt sensors that detect the rider's balance and orientation. When you stand on the hoverboard and lean forward or backward, these sensors detect the tilt angle and send this data to the main logic board (the control system or processor)
- Logic Board and Motor Control: The logic board processes the sensor data in real-time and sends commands to the electric motors in each wheel. If the rider leans forward, the motors rotate the wheels forward to move the board in that direction. Leaning backward causes the motors to reverse or slow down, allowing the hoverboard to stop or move backward
- Movement and Steering: Movement is controlled by shifting your body weight. Leaning forward moves the hoverboard forward; leaning back moves it backward. Turning is achieved by leaning slightly to the left or right, which adjusts the speed and rotation of each wheel independently, allowing the hoverboard to spin or turn smoothly
- Pressure Pads and Safety: Pressure sensors under the footpads detect when the rider is standing on the board. If no tilt or pressure is detected, the motors do not run, keeping the board stationary. This helps prevent unintended movement
- Power Source: Hoverboards are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that supply electricity to the motors and electronic components
Summary
Hoverboards operate by continuously sensing the rider’s balance and tilt through gyroscopes and sensors, processing this information via a central logic board, and adjusting the wheel motors accordingly to keep the rider balanced and move in the desired direction. The rider controls speed and direction simply by leaning their body, making hoverboards intuitive to ride once balanced
