A 26-year-old Chinese tech influencer, Song Xingyu, known online as “Amazing Ayu,” has captured global attention by successfully building and flying a homemade, manned hoverboard. Footage released on October 15 shows Song piloting his innovative device over mountain peaks, city streets, and the iconic Yangtze River in central China, specifically from his home province of Hubei.
From Prototype to Pioneering Flight
Song Xingyu, hailing from Enshi, Hubei province, dedicated approximately two months to developing his experimental flying vehicle. His journey wasn't without setbacks; an initial prototype, powered by micro turbojet engines, tragically caught fire during testing. Undeterred, Song pivoted to an electric propulsion system, culminating in a hoverboard driven by ten brushless motors. This final version is largely controlled by the pilot’s body movements and features AI monitoring.
The electric hoverboard incorporates AI-enabled smartphones—one mounted on the board and another worn on Song's wrist—to deliver real-time audio guidance and assist with maintaining balance during flight. Remarkably, the device is reportedly capable of carrying the weight of four adults, showcasing its robust design.
Inspired by Fiction, Built with Ingenuity
The project has garnered millions of views online, with many viewers drawing comparisons between Song’s device and the flying board used by the Green Goblin in the Spider-Man films. Song himself has acknowledged this inspiration, tapping into a popular cultural fantasy.
Song's background is equally compelling. A self-taught creator, he left school at 14 to work in his father’s timber yard, where he began experimenting with model aircraft using scrap materials. His earlier ventures, including commercial FPV drone photography, played a crucial role in funding his ambitious experiments. He converted an abandoned shed into his workshop, where, despite numerous failed prototypes and financial hurdles, he brought his hoverboard vision to life.
Addressing the Risks of Innovation
While the excitement surrounding Song’s invention is palpable, aviation experts and regulators caution that unlicensed manned drones or hoverboards present significant risks. These include potential battery fires, loss of control, and hazards to people on the ground.
Song, however, expressed a fearless determination in his pursuit:
“I had nothing to begin with, so what am I afraid of losing? Moving forward bravely is the best choice.”His daring flights remain experimental stunts rather than certified personal air transport, highlighting the boundary between groundbreaking innovation and established safety protocols.