Team #1:

Brandon Fichera

Dave Rabeno

Greg Pease

Sean Gallagher

Sponsor:

Dr. Stephanie Wright

Delaware Aerospace Academy

Advisor:

Dr. Michael Keefe

Mission Statement:Mission Statement:

To design a two person hovercraft for the Delaware Aerospace To design a two person hovercraft for the Delaware Aerospace

Academy that will demonstrate the scientific principles of a Academy that will demonstrate the scientific principles of a

hovercraft, foster teamwork between students, and provide a fun, hovercraft, foster teamwork between students, and provide a fun, safe, and educational environment for all students involved.safe, and educational environment for all students involved.

Summary

• BackgroundBackground– Approach

– Mission

• CustomersCustomers

• Wants and ConstraintsWants and Constraints

• BenchmarkingBenchmarking

– Initial System

– Functional

• Concept GenerationConcept Generation

• Concept SelectionConcept Selection

– Metrics and Target Values

• ScheduleSchedule– To Date

– Winter & Spring Semester

– Budget

Background

Delaware Aerospace Academy:Delaware Aerospace Academy:

• Involved in past University of Delaware senior design projects.

• Specializes in teaching kids about the technology

involved in the space program.

Hovercrafts:Hovercrafts:

• New and exciting technology that has yet to be

widely distributed.

Approach

• Based on customers’ wants, system and functional benchmarking, develop multiple concept ideas to satisfy needs for education, recreation, and operation

• Compare these different concept ideas against the metrics and combine the ones that individually deal with education, recreation and operation to yield the best complete solution

• Build, test and iterate this process in order to end up with a hovercraft that maximizes both fun and education

CustomersCustomers (ranked) (ranked)• DAA

» Dr. Stephanie Wright

» Robert Bloom (Aerospace Engineer)

• Students

» High School - Bethany Fichera

» Junior High School - Eric Rabeno

» Middle School - Ted & Elizabeth Pease

• Teachers» High School - Martin Rabeno

» Junior High School - Selina DiCicco

• Industry

» Ron Perkins - Educational Innovations

• School System

» Mark Ellison - Principle High/Jr. High School

WantsWants (ranked) (ranked)1) Demonstrate scientific principles

2) Make it fun

3) Have it look 'cool' (space-like)

4) Maneuverability

5) Transportability

6) Reliability

7) Reproducibility

8) Durability

9) Affordability

ConstraintsConstraints

1) Operation (The hovercraft must hover)

2) Size (Spencer Lab Door 4.5' X 6.3')

3) Allowable Funds ($1600)

4) Number of pilots (must be able to fit two)

TriflyerTriflyer - Hovercraft (best competitor)

PegasusPegasus - Hovercraft

Universal HovercraftUniversal Hovercraft - Hovercraft Kits/Components

Hover ClubHover Club - Hovercraft Articles (lift, skirt design)

Science ProjectScience Project - Simple school project

Initial BenchmarkingInitial Benchmarking

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum:

use videos to excite peoples interest

Six Flags Amusement Parks:

use acceleration and jerk for fun

Briggs and Stratton Engines:

HP, RPM and Prices

Elibra / Hovertech:

Magnetic levitation

Grainger Industrial Equipment:

Electric Motors

RPM, HP and Prices

Universal Hovercraft:

Fans for personal hovercrafts

Northern Tool and Equipment

Co.:

Gas Motors, price comparison

Functional BenchmarkingFunctional Benchmarking

MetricsMetrics1) Number of Principles Taught - 32) Understanding of Video - average understanding = 80%3) Laboratory Understanding - average understanding = 80%4) Speed of Vehicle - 5 mph 10mph5) Acceleration - 1 mph/s6) Planar range - unlimited (limited by fuel capacity alone)7) Directions of Travel - 360 degrees (all horizontal directions)8) Turning Radius - 15 ft9) Fuel Efficiency/Capacity - 3.5 continuous hrs10) Labor Hours of construction - 150 hrs11) Cost - $160012) Length - 9 ft 13) Width - 6 ft 14) Weight - 1000 lbs.15) Object Clearance (bottom of platform to ground) - 6”16) Skirt to ground clearance - 1/2”17) Number of Colors - 318) Sound Effects - 219) Maintenance hours per flight hours - 1/10

Concept Generation:Concept Generation: Education and RecreationEducation and Recreation

1) Smithsonian ApproachSmithsonian Approach - show a video explaining the principles used and then utilize some type of hands on technique

2) Amusement Park ApproachAmusement Park Approach - more like a ride: let two children operate the hovercraft and describe the science of it during operation

Video: allows for more thorough explanation but might lose kids’ interest if not careful

Amusement Park approach: children may not learn as well but

will be less likely to become disinterested

Concept Generation:Concept Generation:OperationOperation

Types of Lift: Power Supply:Magnetic levitation ElectricFan(s) and air cushion Liquid FuelSuspension Fuel Cells

Maneuverability:Fan SystemHuman powered - push and pullRocket Thrusters or Jet Engines

EvaluationEvaluation

Lift:Magnetic levitation is too expensive Suspension craft is too large and too expensive Suspension doesn’t demonstrate appropriate principles

Power Supply:Fuel cells are too expensive

Maneuverability:

Rocket Thrusters and Jet Engines are too expensive, not safe

Human Power will will not teach thrust as well as fan and speed and acceleration will be too slow for target values

Concepts With Regard to Other WantsConcepts With Regard to Other Wants

Transportable

One piece construction

Two piece construction

Wants that can be achieved equally with any concept:

Look ‘Cool’ (Space like)ReliableDurable AffordableReproducible

Concept Selection:Concept Selection:Our Complete Hovercraft DesignOur Complete Hovercraft Design

1) VideoVideo-- Explains principles of:

--- Lift--- Thrust

2) LaboratoryLaboratory-- Students learn about lift and get to build

their own miniature hovering device

3) Operation/Demonstration of HovercraftOperation/Demonstration of Hovercraft

-- Students observe and operate hovercraft

“putting it all together”

Concept SelectionConcept SelectionShape: RectangularRectangular (9’ x 6’)

– most stable– ease of construction

(less labor hours)

Lift: Fan SystemFan System– low cost – best practice– easy to adjust clearance

Skirt: Bag SkirtBag Skirt– good stability – low cost – ease of construction (less

labor hours)

Maneuverability: Fan SystemFan System– range of motion– speed and acceleration

control– best practice

Pilot Position: Side by SideSide by Side– allows for a shorter craft

(size)

Transportable: One PieceOne Piece– more durable– ease of construction– fewer parts to maintain

(maintenance hours)

Working ModelWorking Model

The working model constructed is the same model design that will be used in the laboratory

Demonstration of Lift

Schedule: To DateSchedule: To Date

Schedule for Next SemesterSchedule for Next Semester

*** On orderxxx Estimated

BudgetBudgetStatus Quantity Price TotalReceived 1 $45.00 $45.00Received 1 $23.87 $23.87xxx $313.16 $313.16xxx $45.44 $45.44

1 $227.00 $227.00*** 1 $349.99 $349.99xxx 1 $244.99 $244.99xxx 1 $200.00 $200.00

$150.00

Plans for Tryflyer Hovercraft

Miscellaneous

Engine (Lift)Engine (Thrust)

Computer Fan and BatteryWood For FrameToolingFan (Lift)

Fan (Thrust)

Description

Total $1,599.45