Hovercraft

[Devo1098]

Originally Posted by excel2474

I've built hovercrafts before and let me tell you that by time your robot is all said and done, you won't be able to hover. I mean, it could be possible, but that would require so much power that it's just not plausible. I just seriously doubt that you could build a hover craft and efficiently complete the mission.

I'd like to see one of your hovercraft's, they must be crap. out of cim motors and first batteries i've built a hover craft that moves me around, and I'm not talking a hovercraft in the shape of a circle with a shop vac on the blowing port. a full blown movable steering hovercraft. (two cim motors on car radiator fans for lift)

after several years of building model hovercraft's more or less the exact same size as a first robot I'm positive you could lift a decent weight (i wouldn't do 150, it'll make it hard to steer) and move.

on this low traction force with a well maneuverable hovercraft and a driver who actually knows what their doing, that team could out run, out push and plainly out preform the wheels. in this low traction surface i have no doubt a 60lbs hovercraft with a a 20" fan could push a 150lbs robot with those wheels.

driving is sorta an art, like drifting, everybody believes they can do it, because it looks easy, but really once behind the wheel the most frequent thing done is a spin out or end swap.

now i do think it would be dumb to have a complete hovercraft, with the little traction, you want all you can get....not less. my idea is to have a standard chassis, but have some thrust fans with rudders, to get you up to speed faster improve braking and turning. are there any rules that this would violate?

[ScottX]

haha! If u get that working post up a video! People are craving to see if it works..

[jskene]

In the late 1960's, Jim Hall designed a racing car, the Chaparral 2J, that used auxiliary fans to create suction. It greatyl increased traction, so much so that the rules were changed to make it illegal.

Here's a photo of it:


Others have made smaller versions:



This technique would certainly be possible on an FRC robot, but the question is: would it be legal?

We'll have to wait and see what FIRST says.

[Betty_Krocker]

there is no way the compressor/motors will be able to keep the skirt inflated AND provide thrust, its just out of the question, another thing to remember is battery power...