In the news recently, you may have seen a few companies debut their versions of magnetic hoverboards such as Lexus and Arx Pax. While the hoverboards aren’t quite ready for public consumption, they did pique the interests of NASA scientists. NASA partnered with Arx Pax to use their Hendo Hoverboard engine technology to develop a magnetic ‘tractor beam’. So, what is a ‘tractor beam’ and what does it have to do with the Hendo Hoverboard? The ‘Tractor Beam’ originated in science fiction. It’s a device used to move objects from a great distance. The name is actually shortened from the original concept called an attractor beam. It was a fictional device developed by the chemist and science fiction writer E.E. Smith. Smith wrote about tractor beams in his 1931 novel Spacehounds of IPC. Since its conception, the tractor beam has turned up in numerous science fiction novels and movies, including Star Trek. But the tractor beam may no longer be a thing of science fiction as NASA partners with Arx Pax to develop one for actual use in space. NASA wants to use the tractor beam for the CubeSat project to move small lightweight satellites. The satellites are too small for thrusters, which is why NASA scientists are pursuing the hover engine.

How Does It Work?

The Hendo Hoverboard uses four disc-shaped electromagnetic engines which create a magnetic field that emits a magnetic force against itself. The hoverboard engine generates a strong magnetic field to push against the conductive surfaces of materials like aluminum and copper. This interaction creates a second magnetic field, which is manipulated to either repel or attract. The magnetic manipulation technology used to create the hoverboard is actually meant to demonstrate the value of magnetic field architecture (MFA). MFA would protect buildings from natural disasters such as earthquakes by allowing them to hover above the ground. You can learn more about magnetic field architecture on our next blog post. So, other than the magnetic tractor beam and earthquake-proof buildings, what uses for the magnetic hover engine technology can you think of? Image by Kanijoman