Friday, March 22, 2013

Electric Skateboard Train Pulling Plasma Cars

Fun way to tow your kids on an electric skateboard.

Do not attempt in streets or at high speeds (beyond 7mph)!

Electric Skateboard Pulling Xootr Scooter

Fun way to tow your kids on an electric skateboard.

Do not attempt in streets or at high speeds (beyond 7 mph)!

Monday, March 18, 2013

Some Historical Photos: Very first Metroboard Electric Skateboard Prototype (circa Nov 2003)....Yes that is a Tupperware box holding the battery and electronics!

This first electric skateboard prototype taught me the importance of motor placement. My original goal was to be able to fit the electric skateboard in my gym locker, and so I wanted to minimize the height of the electric skateboard by putting the motor in front of the front truck (this first prototype was actually front wheel drive), where I could take advantage of the extra space allocated by the kick tail. However, after easily scraping the electric skateboard motor and motor bracket going up an down curves, I quickly learned that ground clearance was going to be a problem. Later prototypes moved the electric skateboard motor in between the two trucks which although forced the deck to be higher, better protected the motor from getting whacked going up and down ramps.

Historical Photo: Metroboard Electric Skateboard very first prototype Electronics (circa 2003): I learned very quickly that vibration and solderless breadboards are not a good combination! I remember one of my very first rides, where something vibrated loose from the breadboard, and the motor locked on causing the board to slide out from me and launch into the street. Luckily the Electric Skateboard hit the tire of a parked car and no damage or harm was done! After that I learned very quickly the importance of vibration proofing the electronics and building safeguards into the electronics so that even if one component fails, no safety issues would be created.