Hovercraft
In the Hovercraft event, teams design, build, and test a self-propelled air-levitated vehicle. The objective is to navigate a track with a specific target time. This event tests your knowledge of air-cushion principles, electrical components, and precision in construction and calibration.
General Rules
- Each team must impound only one vehicle and any papers/notes needed during the competition time.
- Participants must wear eye protection during vehicle setup and operation.
- Participants must be able to answer questions regarding the design, construction, and operation of the vehicle.
Event Parameters
- Each team must impound only one vehicle and any papers/notes needed during the competition time. The vehicle must be impounded with the batteries stored separately and presented to the Event Supervisor for inspection. No additional papers/notes may be brought into the competition area after impound.
- Teams may bring tools, supplies, spare parts, eye protection, and two Class III calculators. These items need not be impounded.
- Participants must wear eye protection during vehicle setup and operation. Teams without proper eye protection must be immediately informed and given a chance to obtain eye protection if time allows.
- The Event Supervisor will provide the testing materials listed in the TRACK section. Teams should not bring their own track or ramp.
- Participants must be able to answer questions regarding the design, construction, and operation of the vehicle per the Building Policy found on www.soinc.org.
Construction Parameters
- The vehicle must fit into a 40.0 cm x 40.0 cm x 40.0 cm box when levitated in the ready-to-run configuration. Vehicles must not modify or damage the track.
- The vehicle must levitate on a cushion of air as it moves down the track. Participants may be asked to demonstrate levitation by pushing the vehicle slightly down. If it then rises, it is levitating. Continuous contact of the inflated skirt with the base surface, occasional contact of other vehicle components with the base surface, or any contact with the inside edge of the side rails is permitted.
- All propellers/impellers, including those under the vehicle, must have shielding that prevents a 3/8” dowel from touching them.
- Commercial batteries, including rechargeables, not exceeding 12.0V as labeled, may be used to energize each of the vehicle’s motors. The label on each battery must be the manufacturer’s original and easily viewable by the Event Supervisor. Multiple batteries may be connected together as long as the expected voltage across any two points does not exceed 12.0V, as calculated by their individual labels. The vehicle must not have any other energy sources. Batteries containing lithium or lead are prohibited.
- All motors must have a switch to permit safe starting and stopping. Relying on inserting batteries or twisting wires together to start is not allowed. If more than one motor is used, they may be combined on the same switch or wired on separate switches.
- Electrical components shall be limited to batteries, wires, manually-operated switches, resistors, potentiometers, capacitors, and up to two motors (including brushless motors). Integrated circuits (other than those that are an integral part of a commercial motor) are not permitted.
- For timing and measurement purposes, the vehicle must have a 1/4” or larger wooden dowel vertically attached within 3.0 cm of its front edge such that the top end is at least 20.0 cm above the track’s surface when levitated. The dowel must be placed on the hovercraft so that it will be the first part of the vehicle to break a laser timing beam when the vehicle is traveling forward.
Homework
To prepare for the competition, please review the official rules and event page for more information.
- Official Rules: https://www.soinc.org/hovercraft-b
- Hovercraft Event Page: https://www.soinc.org/hovercraft-b