1. Unmanned Remote Hovercraft
Team Hovercraft
4/16/09
Unmanned Remote Hovercraft
Mitchell Lentini
Brandon Dyer
Justin Earnest

2. Team Hovercraft 2
Project Overview
Web controlled unmanned hovercraft with remote “command station”
For exploration and monitoring purposes
For military and recreational use
Affordable and competitively priced for clientele
Real time controls
Live video feedback 2

3. Design Objectives / Results
Team Hovercraft 3
Design Objectives / Results
Specification
Objective
Actual
Cost
< $400
$350
Weight
< 15 lbs.
20 lbs.
Dimensions
18” x 8” x 6”
24” x 12” x 6”
Battery Life
2 hrs
1 hr 3

4. Phase 1: Hovercraft Body
Team Hovercraft
Phase 1: Hovercraft Body
We have broken down the design into 3 separate pieces that once finished will be integrated.
Phase 1 of the design approach is the construction of the physical body of the hovercraft
Rigid body – plexi-glass frame 24”x12”x6”
Skirt – plastic or rubber sheet designed to create an air cushion under the hovercraft
Lift fan – blower 18 volt dc
Thurst fans – which will be further detailed in the next slide/phase

5. Phase 2: Thrust Mechanism
Team Hovercraft
Phase 2: Thrust Mechanism
Phase 2 or the thrust mechanism will revolve around two V-pitch variable speed motors with propellers.
Forward/backward
Each motor will be controlled by an electric speed controller which will be connected to the eBox via the cypress PSOC
The signal from the command station will be sent to the eBox and processed accordingly
V-pitch

6. Phase 3: Command Station
Team Hovercraft
Phase 3: Command Station
Control GUI
Server Application
Gui designed in C/C#

7. Approach Hovercraft Thrust Motor/Fan Lift Motor/Fan Web Video Camera
Team Hovercraft
Approach
Hovercraft
Thrust
Motor/Fan
Lift
Motor/Fan
Web Video Camera
Servo Controller
System
eBox
Vortex Soc
(processor)
Command Station
Via WiFi
Module

8. Demo Setup Receive live video feed from craft
Team Hovercraft 8
Demo
Setup
Turn on lift motor
Power up eBox
Run communication software initialization
Receive live video feed from craft
Transmit desired controls
Explore the halls of the Van Leer building 8

9. Problems Lack of documentation for support with eBox
Team Hovercraft 9
Problems
Lack of documentation for support with eBox
Thrust Motor signaling error
High voltage supply for thrust motor
-When testing the thrust motors we ran into a serious grounding issue. When the thrust motors ran with a bench top function generator and power supply they worked perfectly. When replacing the bench top power supply with the mobile battery it stopped working altogether.
-The voltage supply from the USB was not high enough to power the controls function for the motor.
-Lack of documentation for support with eBox in particular the web cam 9

10. Schedule and Major Milestones
Team Hovercraft 10
Schedule and Major Milestones
Task
Date
Finish Craft Body
3/25/09
Finish Software
4/17/09
Integrate
4/20/09
Demo
4/21/09 10

11. Cost: Build Team Hovercraft Part Quantity Purchased Unit Cost
Total Cost
Rechargeable Battery 2
$50.00
$100.00
Thrust fan
Hovercraft body
$200.00
eBox
$240.00
$480.00
Camera
$20.00
$40.00
Cypress Controller Kit
Mounting, Cables, and Packaging
Total Material Cost
$1,120

12. Cost: Manufacture Team Hovercraft 12 Parts Cost 627 Assembly Labor 11
Testing Labor 22
Total Labor 33
Fringe Benefits, % of Labor 8
Subtotal
668
Overhead, % of Matl, Labor & Fringe
334
Subtotal, Input Costs
1,002
Sales & Marketing Expense
650
Warranty & Support Expense
125
Subtotal, All Costs
1,777
Profit
623
Profit Percentage
26%
Selling Price
2,400
Total Revenue
$2,400,000
Total Profit
$623,000
Cost: Manufacture 12

13. Results Individual components work exceptionally well
Team Hovercraft 13
Results
Individual components work exceptionally well
Integrated components not so well
Lift mechanism exceeds expectations
Thrust motor signal sending issues
Send/receive communication works
Webcam integration trouble 13

14. For more information please visit our website
Team Hovercraft
For more information please visit our website