MICRO RC HOVERCRAFT.....maybe
 

Hey, i know this is mostly little cars and trucks and stuff, but it's tinyrc.com, and i'm workin on a tiny rc hovercraft...right now, i'm just working on a prototype, and haven't decided how i'm gonna build the steering, i plan to use a clone PCB, and make it a working micro rc hovercraft...It was something i told this girl in my engineering class i was gonna make as a joke, then i got bored today and tried it...lol...Anyway, i just hooked up the motor today, and hooked it up to a small battery....IT HOVERS!!! lol, if you have any suggestions of how to do the steering, or what to use for a skirt...email @ garrettl@rogers.com...wish me luck, or try it yourself....

wonderful
 

i dont think it of the subject when you have made it from a micro rc anyway i have looked at your picture and i thought there is another way of making them and to have steering and it is possible.

I will post pictures of one that i have ( not remote controlled just the frame).

I might have ago at this if you dont mind:)

Thanks martin

pic
 

picture 1, hope it helps

pic2,
 

heres another shot

last one
 

here is the last one, not for long

Normal hovercraft setups have one motor source to fill the skirt, and another source to propel the craft forward. Then a deflector is positioned in the propulsion air flow and is used to direct the craft.

You will need one channel to turn on/off the hover air. Another channel to propel the craft or have it simply hover, and another channel to steer. The bit steering assembly could easily be modified with a deflector and placed in front of the fan.

If you wanted to stick with just two channels, then you will have to wire both hover and propulsion motors to the same channel, which means that if you are hovering, you are moving forward and it you won't be able to move in reverse either.

For the skirt, try some plastic sheeting cut from a bag and trim it to fit.

Sounds like an intesive custom job, but it would be very cool to see working. And it would be able to work over carpeting where most bits wont. Would also work for water if you are daring enough!

thanks
 

thanks for the info

sweeeeeet! Thats a really cool idea. Can't wait for more pics.

Ok...this is what i got now...it's not much, but oh well...ok it hovers and moves with an on-board battery...i'm hoping the weight of the PCB won't be and issue, once i add a skirt...cause i'm pretty sure, that'll give it enough lift...i hope anyway...skirt, PCB and steering, still to come...

the total length is 2 3/4 inches....remember still a prototype, input as well as (constructive)critisism is welcome....got any ideas?? i'd like to hear em...my email again is garrettl@rogers.com

coming along
 

thats coming along very nice, with what i have (see pictures) it is to big so i will cut it down abit and put the motor/s on. what batts are you going to use?

Couple ideas....
 

Pretty trick so far!

I'd thought about making one using something like a Pringles can lid for chassis and a rubber balloon for the skirt.

Why don't you install a small switch (cut down DIP switch, or like a jumper) that you use to turn on/off the hover motor? You'll either want to be floating or parked, and I doubt you'd want to leave it alone long to run down the batts anyway. That way it leaves you with both channels free.

Then if you install Dual rear fans, you can use a differential-thrust for steering. If you pick up one of the Tank clones, you wouldn't even have to think too hard about forward/rev for one side. It'll drive like a tank, so you might want to install a variable resistor to tune the motors to the same output.

Otherwise, you could use 1 fan for propulsion, and a modified stock steering assembly to move a rudder. It will let you use 1 channel for power, and one for steering; just like a Bit. Rather than a tank, it'll drive like an Air-boat.

thans 4 idea
 

thats gr8 thanks i might start doing tht, after i have tited my room :D

Re: Couple ideas....
 

Excellent!!!

Think it'll be able to go over water?

I don't know, lol....

thatle be sweet when its done......check out my project in the micro flight section...


maybe try plasticwrap for the skirt?

I always thought one of those long thin clown balloons would make a great skirt. Never sat down and tried a Hovercraft, but after looking at some of those one-person hovercraft's online people made in their garage, I've been dying to try a micro hover.

Here's how you can make a homemade hovercraft. If anything, it might give people ideas on how to make a micro one. Just thought this was interesting. http://www.amasci.com/amateur/hovercft.html

If I'm correct, you need extra upward thrust to compensate for the displacement of water underneath the skirt. On land the ground stays still, but on water the water gets blown away from the underside of the hovercraft so you -might- need the extra oomph to keep it afloat.

Actually, I think I could wire this to run right! If you put the hover motor on all the time (switch on the hover craft). Then, get 2 of the same RPM motors, preferably the highest RPM you can get (they must be the same, or else it'll steer by itself). Splice the motor wires. Solder them onto the motors. Now here's the ingenious steering part: take the steering wires, and wire them to the same 2 motors! When you let go of the forward button, pressing the appropriate steering button will give you tank steering! The steering coils are wired so only positive is triggered, and negative is on all the time. You could do a rudder system, but I just think this is cool!

That definitely a good idea about the steering.

I may have to try one of these.

Someone mentioned that using computer case fan wouldn't work because a small motor couldn't turn it. What you could use though would be a gpu cooling fan because they are much smaller. I think about the right size.

Taco bell has those taco salad thingies in a large sea shell looking shell... they come in a black and clear package... the bottom is the same meat-tray type foam, only it has more of a hover craft shape... less cutting/modding ;) just thought some one might want to goto taco bell and ask for a empty package lol... I had two of them, butsome one tossed them before I could do ne thing with them...