Introduction: Easy Hovercraft
Introduction
We are team 15, Pink Elephant, from Joint Institute. JI is an institute that offers us students an integration of the superior teaching resources and modes from SJTU and UM, located in Shanghai Minhang district, Shanghai. The lab in JI building is our favorite places (shown in figure 1).
In the VG100 course, we are required to have two races. To answer this requirement, we made our own hovercraft, which weighs 769g and its sizes is 18cm×15cm×28cm. It completed two races. The first one is time trail, in which all hovercraft runs a certain track one by one and tracks the time. Our time is 11.25s. We won the first prize. The second race is tournament, in which hovercrafts from two groups run the track at the same time and the winner is the faster one. To our pity, we lost in the first round.
Our design mainly consists four parts: thruster, turning system, controlling system, outer structure, and
circuit. In both thruster and turning system, we use three bypass motors to gain large lifting and propulsive force. The outer stricture is highly symmetrical in order to reduce air drag.
Material List (See the figure)
Step 1: Step 1: Design the Circuit
Step 2: Step 2: Make the Foamed Plastic Board As the Frame
Board#1
l Cut the board into 27cm*20cm*1.7cm.
l Draw two rectangles 21cm*6mm. Its long symmetry axis is parallel with long side and 4cm from long side. The short side of the rectangle is parallel with short side and 3cm from short side.
l Cut out two rectangles on the board and use file to make the wall more smooth.
Board #2 & 3
l Cut the two identical boards. Their cross-section are the trapezoid with 21.5cm- upper base, 27cm-lower base and 4.5cm-high. Their thickness is 1.7cm.
Board #4
l Cut the board into 17.6cm*4.5cm*1.7cm.
Board #5
Cut the board. Its cross section is trapezoid with 6.8cm- upper base, 7.5cm-lower base and 1.7cm-high. Their thickness is 20cm.
Board #6
l Cut the board into 21.5cm*20cm*1.7cm.
l Draw the circle on the board. The center of the circle is at the center of the board. The diameter of the circle is 64mm.
l Cut out the circle and use file to make the wall more smooth.
Board 7
l Cut the board into 25cm*9cm*1.7cm.
l Draw two circles. The centers of circles are at the long symmetry axis of the board and they are 5.2cm from the short side.The diameter of the circles is 64mm.
l Cut out the two circles and use file to make the wall more smooth.
Step 3: Step 3:Install the Fans for Propelling
l There are two holes on the
Board #7. Put the two ducted fan into them.Be careful to your wires. Put the remote signal receiver on the top of the board.
Step 4: Step 4: Install the Ducted Fan for Lifting.
l There is a hole on the
Board#6. Put the ducted fan into it. Keep the wires attached to the fan above the body.
Step 5: Step 5: Install the The Battery and Electronic Speed Controller and Connect the Wires by Circuit Diagram.
l Put the battery and
electronic speed controller on the Board #6 and fixation.The position is on the following figure.
Step 6: Step 6:Assemble All the Boards.
l Make the base of frame.
Stick the Board#1~5 by silica gel.The combination way is on the figure following.
l Stick the Board#6 on the
base frame of hovercraft by silica gel.
Stick
the Board#7 on the Board#6 and connect the remote signal receiver.
Step 7: Step 7: Congratulations! You Have Finished Your Own DIY Hovercraft!
