Powerboards and Gravity Boards, Technical

The Motoblade MBX powerboards and GX gravity boards are really not 'boards', in the familiar sense, though the term is useful for descriptive purposes. While there are sections to stand on, there is no actual board element.  Instead, the whole chassis, framework, and related components constitute the riding structure, and steering and control of our board is a function of these components working together.  Our patented design utilizes a series mechanical actuators and linkages which combine to form a chassis with an arrowhead shaped footprint, (or outline of the wheels when viewed from above).  While the Motoblade has the stability of a four-wheeled board, the location of the four wheels constitute a ride that is more two-wheeler in nature.  The singular inline front wheel is the 'steering' wheel and the singular inline rear follows along, like a conventional two-wheeler. The other two wheels are located on either side of the rear wheel. It is this wheel placement of one in the front and three in the back that gives the Motoblade its arrowhead footprint.

How it works

The two 'control' wheels located on either side of the inline rear wheel are mounted on struts, which are in turn mounted on either side of the Motoblade chassis.

These opposing 'strut/wheel elements are attached to the frame in a in a way that allows them to

independently move up and down relative to the chassis in a pre-determined range.  In its static, or 'at rest' position, the Motoblade is untilted and pointed in a straight ahead vector.  However, when leaning to turn, the rider starts a rapid sequence of mechanical events.  First, dynamic pressure is applied to one or the other of the strut wheels, (and its corresponding strut), depending on the direction of lean.  For example, in a right hand turn (lean), the right strut wheel moves up relative to the chassis, and the left side strut wheel moves down.  Next, the vertical upward and downward movements of the struts are transferred by torsion lines to their corresponding side(s) of the front wheel axle, where the opposing sides of the axle are contained in slotted openings in the spring loaded front forks.

During operation, the vertical motions of the two rear struts/wheels, alternately pull the opposing ends of the front wheel axle horizontally to and fro along the fork openings, thus vectoring the front 'steering' wheel towards the direction of lean.  The harder the lean, the more the struts are displaced, and the sharper the turn. The compressed spring tension in each fork tube provides a constant outward force on its respective axle end, counteracting the gravity forces instilled by the rider as well as the terrain conditions.  This video clip further illustrates this process in action.  (Mouse over picture below.)

Ultimately, we’ve tried to combine the cornering and tracking ability of a two-wheeler with the stability of a four-wheeler.  The net result, after years of trial, error and refinement,  is a Motoblade design that provides a ride that is smooth, highly controllable, (absent of ‘wobblies’ at any speed), and just plain fun to ride.

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