HOVERCRAFT

       

HOVERCRAFT

A vehicle capable of travelling over surfaces on a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air. The air is ejected against the surface below and contained within a skirt. A propeller in the vertical plane used to provide the thrust, to move forward.

Topics to be covered in the following sequence:

Ø    Definitions & Terminologies

Ø    Forces on the craft

Ø    Types of RC hovercrafts

Ø    Hovercraft Controls

Ø    Skirt Design and Lift Generation

Ø    Propulsion design

Ø    How to make your hovercrafts(motor mount, servo mount)

Ø    Duct designing

Ø    Few other designing tips

Ø    Our team

HOVERCRAFT

A vehicle capable of travelling over surfaces on a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air. The air is ejected against the surface below and contained within a skirt. A propeller in the vertical plane used to provide the thrust, to move forward.

BASIC TERMINOLOGIES

FORCES ACTING ON HOVERCRAFT

THRUST OF HOVERCRAFT

Propeller motor system in the vertical plane produces thrust. Thrust mechanism can also be integrated with the lift mechanism of the craft.

TYPES OF HOVERCRAFT (RC)

1.    HOVERCRAFT WITH TWO PROPELLER SYSTEM

Ø 2 different motor-propeller systems for Lift and Thrust mechanisms.

Ø Has the ability to hover at a place!

Ø Amount of lift independent of the amount of thrust.

Ø Horizontal plane –lift mechanism.

Ø Vertical plane –Propulsion mechanism, integrated with controls.

Ø Generally used for large scale purposes.

2.    HOVERCRFT WITH SINGLE PROPELLER SYSTEM

Ø Lift and propulsion mechanisms integrated.

Ø A vertical/slightly inclined motor propeller system.

Ø Duct provided to push some amount of air through below the mainframe into the skirt.

Ø Efficiency depends on better duct designing.

Ø Lift dependent on thrust.

Ø Maximizing air flow for lift, not compromising on thrust.

HOVERCRAFT CONTROLS

v   Speed i.e. throttle depends on the rear vertical motor.

v   In case of single propeller crafts, it affects the lift too.

v   Rudder attached, behind the thrust motor to maneuver.

v   Thrust Vectoring can also be used.

v   Twin thrust motor with/without rudders is also used.

v   Any other mechanism you might think!!!

The cushion of High pressure air provides the necessary lift to keep the hovercraft afloat.

SKIRT DESIGN FOR HOVERCRAFT

The skirt may be cloth or cloth type

 v Skirt surface drawings.

   v Notice the curved side parts to give it a wrinkleless blown up shape.

              v Used to contain high pressurized air.

Propulsion and integrated controls

ü Vertical motor-prop system.

ü Ducting required.

ü High thrust motor-prop system should be chosen.

ü Main aim = maximize the flow of air intake to the propulsion system.

ü Maneuverability achieved through the use of rudders.

ü Single and multi-rudder systems implemented depending on the use.

ü A challenge in the multi-rudder system-synchronization.

ü Thrust Vectoring also an option.

ü T.V.integrates propulsion with controls leads to lower radii of drift.