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 and Design 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

8. Alternative Design Concepts
STEERING
Rotating Fan vs. Rudders
Cost/Benefit
LIFT AIRFLOW
Ducted Hull vs. Free Flow

9. Final Design

10. Detailed Design

11. Detailed Design (continued)

12. Stress/Deformation Analysis
Loads:
Lift motor – 57lbs
Lift fan -4lbs
Thrust motor – 87lbs
Thrust fan - 8lbs
Person – 200lbs

13. Stress Analysis – lift fan fixed

14. Stress Analysis – person fixed

15. Calculations Hull Hover Pressure:
*Many preliminary calculations we made using an online calculator:

16. Calculations Simulation data from: Inputs: Hull Width (5’)
CALCULATION STAGE 1 – Lift requirements
Air Gap(in)
0.5 1
1.5 2
Lift Perimter (ft) 27
Hover Gap (ft²)
1.13
2.25
3.38
4.5
Cushion Area (ft²) 45
Cushion Pressure (lbs/in²)
0.123
Cushion Pressure (atm)
0.0084
Air Velocity (ft/sec)
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:
Inputs:
Hull Width (5’)
Hull Length (10’)
Gross Weight (800lbs)
Hover Height (air gap)
CALCULATION STAGE 2 - Lift Fan
Engine RPM
3060
# of Blades 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

17. Budget Total Hovercraft Budget 2605.00 Lift Engine 400.00
Thrust Engine
Lift Fan
Thrust Fan
Skirt
Build Your Own HoverTrek Video
4 Sheets of 1/8” Plywood
Skirt Glue/Screws
Steering Cable
Fiberglass Hull Material
Total Hovercraft Budget

18. Summary

19. Winter Term