Before you can confidently get off a hoverboard, you need to learn how it works, how it moves, and it’s “balance” mechanism.
A Hoverboard usually creates curiosity about how it functions. Most people want to know its mechanism. If you’re wondering how it moves, I’ll tell you.
When you place your feet on the upper surface (pressure pads), it interrupts infrared signals. These infrared sensors are placed just under your feet. This signal goes to the control board.
Thus, control board signals the motors to move.
When you lean forward the front pressure pad is pushed and the hoverboard moves forward. On the other hand, when you lean backward, the rear pressure pad is pushed and so hoverboard moves backward.
Meanwhile, gyroscope keeps it balanced. And speed sensors control speed limit.
Each component of a hoverboard has its role. Each part is responsible for a specific operation. Its inside coordination is as precise as a high-profile technical instrument.
All the essential parts are interconnected and share millions of data to make a balance, move forward and backward, load detection and to turn around.
Maybe you’re considering how a hoverboard keeps balance? Is there any magic-wand that turns its directions automatically? Could there be a wizard operating inside in the board that tells hoverboard when to move and to stops?
Interestingly, there is no wizard or magic-wand. It’s all about coordinated operations of some technical parts.
So, let’s have an interesting and very simple detailed analysis of the various components of a hoverboard. A hoverboard usually comes with the following components:
- Two wheels
- Gyroscope
- Pivotal shaft
- A steel body
- Pressure pads
- Lithium-ion or Samsung powered battery
- LEDs
- LU or control board
- Infrared sensors
- Charging port
- On/off switch
Two wheels
Most hoverboards have two wheels. These wheels are made of steel rim and a rubber frame on the outer edge of the rim. Each wheel houses a powerful motor inside it.
This motor is responsible for movements. Inside each wheel, there are speed and tilt sensors. These sensors detect RPM (Revolution per minute) and the degree of tilt of each wheel.
This information is then sent to the logical unit or control board. Then, control board process all data from speed sensors and directs wheels how to react and at what speed to move.
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is an instrument that uses earth gravity to decide its orientation. It is secret of the autopilot. Gyroscope detects the degree of tilt and sends information to the control board (the motherboard of a hoverboard).
Actually, a gyroscope is that wizard which keeps a hoverboard balanced and mounted.
Control board process data from gyroscope in milliseconds and operates wheels — so that when you calibrate a hoverboard, gyroscopes are “zeroed”.
It means as you are telling hoverboard what to do. When a hoverboard is calibrated, its tilt is at “0” degree. To calibrate a hoverboard means you want to have a better balance.
Pivotal shaft
Pivotal shaft is actually the backbone of a hoverboard. It connects both wheels together keeping them intact to each other.
It also provides space to stand on the hoverboard. Under pivotal shaft, there is a control board and on the upper side — pressure pads are fixed.
A steel body
Actually, a pivotal shaft can also be termed as a steel body. Steel body is flat and spacious enough to fix feet on it.
It is responsible for providing space for pressure pads, control board (logical unit), and when the feet are placed on it. This steel body can bear the weight of up to 100 kg.
Pressure pads
Pressure pads are installed on the upper surface of the steel body. There are two pressure-pads under single foot. One pressure pad is placed under foot fingers and the other comes under the heel.
When you place your feet on pressure pads, they act as triggers and push the underneath joints. These joints then, build a circuit and hence current flows toward wheels and gyroscope.
So, you can say that these pads are responsible for movements, turning around, and for start/stop functions.
Lithium-ion battery
So, here comes powerhouse of the hoverboard. The lithium-ion battery is a good battery. Once charged, it can run hoverboard for almost three days. It is replaceable, though.
However, some rumors are there that lithium battery explodes labeling hoverboard “unsafe for human use”. Maybe it’s true in some cases, but that was in the past.
LEDs
In front of hoverboard two LEDs are installed. When you place your feet on the body — these lights turn on. These LEDs show that someone is on board. And also that the hoverboard is functioning properly.
Another green LED turns on when hoverboard reaches its maximum speed. Thus, green LED make a rider/user conscious about the speed.
Different hoverboards have different colors of LEDs. These LEDs range from blue to red and green.
LU or control board
Logical unit or control board is the brain of a hoverboard. It can also be named as the motherboard. All data is received, processed and then sent to respective components of the hoverboard.
Control board receives data from speed sensors, pressure pads, gyroscopes, infrared lights, and tilt sensors. These millions of bites are processed in milliseconds and proper instructions are sent to different parts.
It’s the logical unit or control board that coordinates all functions of a hoverboard. Thus, it can be said that control board is responsible for managing speed, sustaining balance, changing direction, and on/off functions.
It is indeed a vital part of a hoverboard.
Infrared sensors
Under pressure pads, Infrared sensors are placed. When you ride and lean forward, the front pressure pad is pushed. So, it puts a plastic “wall” between infrared LED and the infrared sensor.
As long as the infrared sensor detects LED light, they tell the motors to be still. And when this LED signal is interrupted motors begin to move the wheels. So, here is the magic wand that causes automatic motion of hoverboard.
Charging port
Like all other chargeable devices, hoverboards also have a charging socket. Through this charging port, you can plug-in the electric supply which in turn charges the battery.
On/off switch
There is also an on/off switch. When you want to use hoverboard just switch it on and place your feet on it. After using, turn off that switch and it will shut down all operations inside.
