Last year around this time, London-based product designer PoChih Lai unveiled his 8-wheeled Stair-Rover skateboard. Using four independently-pivoting sets of two wheels, the prototype longboard was actually able to descend stairs – hence its name. Consumers may soon be able to buy one of their own, as Lai and his team have just started a Kickstarter campaign to finance commercial production of the skateboard.
Unlike the previous version of the Stair-Rover (or at least, the last version we saw), the commercial model has all of its stair-surfing bits and pieces located on the underside of the deck. This leaves the top completely free for foot placement, just like a regular skateboard.
It reportedly offers a smooth ride on flat surfaces, but as with the 14 prototypes that preceded it, it’s also able to “scuttle” down steps or other uneven terrain. Not only should this allow riders to stay on their boards in places that they previously had to dismount and carry them, but it could also make a variety of new tricks possible.
Kickstarter backers can choose between two versions of the Stair-Rover. A minimum pledge of £235 (or US$360) will get them a maple-decked basic model, while £270 ($415) will put them in line for the snazzy black fiberglass-decked Stair-Rover Pro ... assuming the funding goal is met.
The skateboard can be seen in use in the pitch video below.
Sources: Stair-Rover, Kickstarter
They should partner up w/ these guys: http://www.phloater.knarleymax.com/
Then you'd have a full-suspension, stair-descending skateboard!
Also, I'd like to know what significance the center beam has? It seems to be acting as a point of contact on the stairs? If not, then why is it so low?
I'd like to see this thing:
1. Set up w/ Drop-through trucks. (to get it a little lower to the ground) 2. W/ a raised center-beam. (for better ground-clearance)
Get a real board, learn to skate, then get some speed and bust a big melancholy grab down that set of stairs instead. The beauty of the skateboard is its simplicity, I'm all for innovation but this compromises everything and leaves nothing in my personal opinion, sorry but that's just my $.02. Peace.
Because this follows Bill Allison's notion that 8 wheels provides the best of everything provided that they are bogied both front and back.
There is one step above and beyond this.
Too many unthinking people believe that 3 wheels provide less rolling resistance but it simply is not true.
If it were true then Rail Cars would run on 3 wheels, but they run on independently bogged pairs of 8 wheels.
Build a model of 4 wheels, 6 wheels, and 8 wheels bogied and see which one will move the fastest, and travel the farthest....
Use a board to establish an inclined plane.
8 wheels always wins.
Bill, who lamented that he had spent a lifetime designing suspensions, including the Hudson seen in the movei "Cars" and the Packard Torsion Ride lamented that he finally figured it out in his retirement.
And yes he is the guy who hit the Betz Limit with his wind engine but you will not show it because he did it over 30 years ago yet it remains totally ingenious.
Bill