Hovercraft Group #1 Matt Walker Travis Smith Melissa Huynh Mark Reimer Jason Rubin David Duncan Matt Walker Travis Smith Melissa Huynh Mark Reimer Jason Rubin David Duncan

Design Process  First couple of meetings were spent brainstorming and voting on ideas.  Decided to first build a prototype to test ideas on so that we don’t have to worry about perfect dimensions and appearance.  Final version is the one where we carefully measured everything and used color coordinated materials.  First couple of meetings were spent brainstorming and voting on ideas.  Decided to first build a prototype to test ideas on so that we don’t have to worry about perfect dimensions and appearance.  Final version is the one where we carefully measured everything and used color coordinated materials.

Base Design 1st - Meat packages. Found that it wasn’t aerodynamic enough and the lip wasted the lift by having to fill up a larger volume for the same distance off the ground. Also, it just didn’t look that cool!

Base Design 2nd - Pointed Nose This design was inherently unstable and had issues with directional control.

Base Design 3rd - Rounded Nose This design proved more stable and much easier to control the side to side motion but it wasn’t quite what we needed.

Base Design Final Design This final model is the perfect balance between weight and stability. The longer body adds stability and extra room for components.

Number of Fans  Originally, we considered having 2 fans. 1 down for lift and 1 backwards for thrust.  Originally, we considered having 2 fans. 1 down for lift and 1 backwards for thrust.  Then, we thought about using each fan for both thrust and lift by dividing the air stream.  We finally decided to use a larger motor for thrust and a fan for lift. Really Big Motor!

Number of Fans Since the new motor and its battery weighed considerably more, we decided to use two fans for lift.

Fan Placement  We originally thought of two fans, one in front of the other. This caused the craft to be unstable and too long.  The side by side design gives good stability and allows for a shorter length.  Lastly, we had to move the fans a couple of inches forward because the thrust of the large engine pushes the nose down.  We originally thought of two fans, one in front of the other. This caused the craft to be unstable and too long.  The side by side design gives good stability and allows for a shorter length.  Lastly, we had to move the fans a couple of inches forward because the thrust of the large engine pushes the nose down.

Skirt Design  We considered an open, full, and tubular design.  The tubular design was too complicated.  The open design didn’t hold enough air in.  We finally decided on a full skirt with holes to let some of the air out because it is simple and reliable.  We considered an open, full, and tubular design.  The tubular design was too complicated.  The open design didn’t hold enough air in.  We finally decided on a full skirt with holes to let some of the air out because it is simple and reliable.

Rudder We decided to add a rudder because we already had all the parts and it greatly increased the maneuverability and control. Learning to steer

Appearance For the final design, we chose an all black and yellow appearance. When we looked at the craft from above it reminded us of Pac-man so we decorated accordingly. For the final design, we chose an all black and yellow appearance. When we looked at the craft from above it reminded us of Pac-man so we decorated accordingly.

Challenges Greatest challenge was working as a team  Exchanging ideas without stepping on others  Not killing each other. Greatest challenge was working as a team  Exchanging ideas without stepping on others  Not killing each other. Burning out the smaller motors (we went through 4) Having the batteries charged when we needed them. The two batteries have different connectors. Shorted out the receiver and had to replace it. Finding the center of gravity.

Equipment List: 2 sheets of core board$ motors$ switch$ battery connecter $ rudder kit$ big motor free 2 batteries free Radio controller and receiver free Total: $20.92 OU Engineering: Priceless

START FINISH

Version 1.0

Final Version