Engineer Hideyasu Ito has always been intrigued by hovercrafts, so he used his knowledge of motorcycles and built his own. Rather than use standard engines and a flexible skirt found on standard hovercrafts, he opted for four large inflatable plastic bags connected to a leaf blower.
Gas-powered leaf blowers are typically the noisiest, as they operate at 80 to 90 decibels. This means Ito needs to wear protective ear equipment while testing his hovercraft. For those wondering, this is actually his eighth prototype since starting his journey a decade ago, and this latest iteration was polished enough to showcase at Maker Faire Tokyo 2022. There’s no word yet on when or if we’ll see the final prototype in-action.
Segway Ninebot S Smart Self-Balancing Electric Scooter, Dual 400W Motor, Max 13.7 Miles Range & 10MPH, Hoverboard with LED Light, Compatible with Gokart kit, UL-2272 Certified
- UL 2272 certified for safety. Smart Battery Management System for reliability. IP54 waterproof protection.
- Sturdy & Powerful: Compact design, 28 lbs, 220 lbs max load. Dual 400W motors, 10 mph max speed, 13.7 miles per charge, 15° slope.
- Road Adaptive Design: 10.5" pneumatic tires for smooth ride. Knee control bar for precise steering, easy lifting. Age: 16-50. Height: 3.11-6.6".
Maker Faire Tokyo2022では超小型ホバークラフト研究室のブースに多くの方に来ていただきました。会場屋外でデモ走行の様子です。 pic.twitter.com/dP0KAENMOo
— 超小型ホバークラフト研究室 (@microhovercraft) September 5, 2022