Design and Implementation of a Single-Manned Hovercraft

1
Design and Implementation of a Single-Manned
Hovercraft

• Caitlin Del Zotto
• Keith Gooberman
• Matthew Mayerhofer
• Noah Weichselbaum
• Senior Project Advisor Professor William Keat

2
Presentation Outline

• Hovercraft background
• Design objective
• Design requirements
• Safety requirements
• Alternative design concepts
• Final concept design
• summary

3
Hovercraft Background

• First invented in 1956-Christopher Cockerell
• Vehicle supported by a cushion of air
• Can travel over any surface
• More efficient than boats
• Less drag, lower HP, higher efficiency

4
Hovercraft Background

• Recreational Uses
• Cruising, Fishing
• Family, Diving
• Transportation, Hunting
• Commercial Uses
• Patrol Ice Flood Rescue
• Airport Rescue Military
• Over Water Tours
• Water Taxi Ferry Service
• River Rescue Ice Breaking
• Conservation Farming
• Camera Craft Ice Fishing
• Fishing Tours Transport

5
Design Objectives andDesign Requirements

• Hovercraft must be able to transport one
  individual
• Must ride on cushion of air
• Needs to be able to travel over grass, concrete,
  dirt, ice/snow, and water
• Goal is to defeat Ian Keat through obstacle
  course designed by William Keat

6
Safety Requirements

• Must be build to prevent rollover
• No sharp edges
• Driver must wear helmet and earplugs
• Kill switch must be installed
• Must be able to float
• Needs to be able to stop relatively quickly
• Driver needs some type of seatbelt

7
Alternative Design Concepts

• LIFT AND THRUST CONCEPTS
• Splitter System vs. Two Single Systems
• Cost/Benefit
• SKIRT
• Bag, Finger or Jupe
• Cost/Benefit

8
Alternative Design Concepts

• STEERING
• Rotating Fan vs. Rudders
• Cost/Benefit
• LIFT AIRFLOW
• Ducted Hull vs. Free Flow
• Cost/Benefit

9
Final Design
10
Detailed Design
11
Detailed Design (continued)
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Stress/Deformation Analysis

• Loads
• Lift motor 57lbs
• Lift fan -4lbs
• Thrust motor 87lbs
• Thrust fan - 8lbs
• Person 200lbs

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Stress Analysis lift fan fixed
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Stress Analysis person fixed
15
Calculations

• Hull Hover Pressure
• Many preliminary calculations we made using an
  online calculator
• http//www.olshove.com/hoverhome/hovcalc.html

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Calculations
CALCULATION STAGE 1 Lift requirements CALCULATION STAGE 1 Lift requirements CALCULATION STAGE 1 Lift requirements
Air Gap(in) 0.5 1 1.5 2
Lift Perimter (ft) 27 27 27 27
Hover Gap (ft²) 1.13 2.25 3.38 4.5
Cushion Area (ft²) 45 45 45 45
Cushion Pressure (lbs/in²) 0.123 0.123 0.123 0.123
Cushion Pressure (atm) 0.0084 0.0084 0.0084 0.0084
Air Velocity (ft/sec) 73.8 73.8 73.8 73.8
Lift Air Volume (CFM) 4981 9960 14940 19920
Lift Air Volume (CFS) 83.02 166 249 332
Engine HP 4.46 8.91 13.36 17.81
Fan Diameter (in) 19.58 27.69 33.91 39.16

• Simulation data from
• http//www.olshove.com/hoverhome/hovcalc.html
• Inputs
• Hull Width (5)
• Hull Length (10)
• Gross Weight (800lbs)
• Hover Height (air gap)

CALCULATION STAGE 2 - Lift Fan CALCULATION STAGE 2 - Lift Fan
Engine RPM 3060 3060 3060 3060
of Blades 5 5 5 5
Blade width mid 8.73 6.19 5.05 4.38
Blade Width base 11.36 8.03 6.56 5.69
Blade Width tip 5.25 3.70 3.03 2.63
Tip Speed (ft/sec) 261.4 369.7 452.7 522.7
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Budget

• Lift Engine 400.00
• Thrust Engine 1000.00
• Lift Fan 250.00
• Thrust Fan 350.00
• Skirt 180.00
• Build Your Own HoverTrek Video 50.00
• 4 Sheets of 1/8 Plywood 220.00
• Skirt Glue/Screws 30.00
• Steering Cable 25.00
• Fiberglass Hull Material 100.00
• Total Hovercraft Budget 2605.00

18
Summary
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Winter Term