Hoverboards, self-balancing scooters or self-balancing hoverboards, whatever name you may know it for, are something that has quite successfully catapulted itself into popular culture. It hasn’t been even a decade that hoverboards came out and ever since there has been no short of controversy and rumors surrounding this futuristic ride.
There has been a long patent war between the original manufacturer companies in china. Even the companies in the USA have been involved in this dispute. Also, there is all the news coming out about these, and people are still confused about what they should be called.
So if you too have been feeling quite confused what is the actual difference between the terms, here is our take on this whole matter. So What is the difference between a hoverboard and a self-balancing hoverboard? Let’s find it out!
Hoverboard and Self-balancing Hoverboard: What is the Difference?
Well, the very first difference would be that there hasn’t been any proper hoverboard developed by any manufacturer yet. Because if you are talking about the hoverboards that are being portrayed into pop culture and sci-fi cinemas, there hasn’t been one developed yet. So between a hoverboard and self-balancing hoverboard, to be quite honest with you, none of these terms are right to some extent.
All the hoverboards that you see or people perceive as hoverboards are self-balancing scooters in reality. You may ask then why are they called hoverboards when in reality they are self-balancing scooters?
Well nobody knows for sure who started to call them hoverboards, but they are closest to the hoverboards we have right now. So that is why even though the right term should be self-balancing scooters, it is called a hoverboard by the majority of the people.
History of Hoverboard and Self-Balancing Scooters
Hoverboards have always been recurring in all science fiction, especially the futuristics ones where technology seemed to be at its peak. So all these self-elevation and devices that work against gravity haven’t been a new concept. But even though there has been some development in the field of military technology, which is often classified, there hasn’t been any such invention of mass people.
But the best and so far most popular visualization of the hoverboard has to be the blockbuster fiction and movie back to the future. The protagonist is seen to be using a hoverboard when he travels in the future of 2015. Coincidentally, that was also the year when first-ever functional self-balancing scooters came out and were marketed as hoverboards.
Are Hoverboards Safe for Human Use?
We have seen a lot of controversy surrounding the hoverboards. But catching fire is the one that has made lots of people doubt over whether they are safe to use or not. Although in the initial phase of these hoverboards when they have just come out was a lot of defective products, they have been slowly coming out of this.
Now there have been quite a few companies that have been producing hoverboards that are fully compliant to the UL 2272 Safety regulations. So it can be safely used by humans, both adults and children. You need to make sure the brand has been certified and approved by regulators.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How does self-balancing scooter work?
If the whole mechanism of the self-balancing scooters needs to be explained, there will only be endless jargons to explain the whole thing. But in human language, it all comes down to the way sensors are placed inside the frame. It works as the same principle as the human body where the ear tells the brain that the body is in motion, and thus the brain reacts appropriately. So the sensor tells the CPU of the self-balancing scooter which way the body is tilting and the scooter balances itself accordingly.
2. How does self-balancing work?
Self-balancing in the hoverboards or self-balancing scooters is a combination of the sensor and the way the entire frame or the body is designed. It uses the sensors to detect any movement or the tilt angles and works as instructed to act.
3. How do you use a self-balancing scooter?
Well, the most challenging part of riding a self-balancing scooter is being able to maneuver comfortably and also being able to stop properly. So to learn about riding it properly, start practicing to maneuver yourself in a safer place with less crowd. Start practicing to get off the hoverboard safely using the back leg. Also, avoid bending your knees or looking at your feet as it might put you off balance.
4. What does self-balancing mean?
Self-balancing means something that can balance itself. But in this context self-balancing refers to the hoverboards which can stay upright no matter whichever angle the rider is tilting on.
5. Are all Hoverboards self-balancing?
Yes, all the hoverboards or the self-balancing scooters you see are designed to balance themself against whichever angle the rider is tilting. That is the principle all the hoverboards that you see in the market are designed on.
6. Are Hoverboards easy or hard to ride?
Read about this in our separate article here.
Final Thoughts…
The difference between a hoverboard and self-balancing hoverboard can be a bit complicated. But it comes down to how the hoverboards are marketed in that certain part of the world. Because some people know it as a self-balancing scooter or some may call it Segway, which is a brand name.
But there isn’t any difference as they are all self balancing scooter manufactured by different brands.
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