Let's Make Robots!

Hovercraft

razvan_iycdi's picture
It goes around just like an RC car but it's much more fun because it's floating.
Cost to build: 
$180
Time to build: 
20 hours
Weight: 
1200 grams

Here's another project that I have, it was a physics project for school but I thought I could put an Arduino somewhere in there and make it more interesting, and it worked. The hovercraft has a tubular skirt that I made out of duct tape. It has two 50mm EDFs (EDF= Electronic Ducted Fan), one for hovering and one for propulsion, each with 40amp ESCs (ESC = Electronic speed controller). For direction I used a servo to turn the back fan left and right. The propulsion fan and the servo are connected to an RC receiver and I control them from the remote. The hovering fan( the one that blows downwards and produces the lift and onflates the skirt) is connected through the ESC to the arduino and the Arduino sets the speeh of the fan according to the position of a potentiometer. For the code I used the servo library and I connected the signal wire of the ESC to the arduino as it would be the signal of a servo. I just had to change some numbers in the delay statements and it works just fine. Both the Arduino and the lift fan use a second 7.2v LiPo battery( separate from the one used for the servo and propulsion EDF). Go watch the videos for more info. The first video is an explanation on how it works and the second is a drive. It is a very fun project to play with :)

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Ak's picture

Just an idea for the video... Take it out on the dirt, that would really show the power of the fans... :) I know that the skirt might get damaged on rough surfaces or might not provide the lift, but it would be a really cool video to see. Just a thought.. Nice work... :)

razvan_iycdi's picture
razvan_iycdi's picture

I'm currently uploading the hovercraft to instructables.com

And once again it is proven that MacGyver was right. ALWAYS carry ducttape, it will build EVERYTHING.

Really like this one. Did you try it on water? I guess not, since you've used quite some cardboard..

razvan_iycdi's picture

No, I haven't tried it on water, I don't want to get the electronics wet. They are not properly isolated for water use.

Towlieboy78's picture

Is that remote from hobbyking?

razvan_iycdi's picture

No, it is a FlySky FS-GT2 2.4G 2CH Gun Transmitter that I got from HobbyPartz.com for $19.50 with receiver.

I also got all the other parts for the hovercraft from them. they have a lot of great products at low prices.

Here's the link for the remmote:

http://www.hobbypartz.com/fs-g2-24ghz-radio.html

Towlieboy78's picture

Thanks for the tip :D

razvan_iycdi's picture

No problem

brooksware2000's picture

Really cool project.  That looks like a SparkFun box on the back.  I like the use of the duct tape.