Introduction
The aim of this project is to build a hovercraft which can be remotely controled. The hovercraft design is based on solidworks and the control part is based on python programming with a corresponding microcontroller.
By the end of this project, students are expected to be able to:
By the end of this project, students are expected to be able to:
- 1、Write a complex program with Python language.
- 2、Design and build a electronic circuit on breadboards with a microcontroller.
- 3、Design a 3D model by solidworks.
- 4、Build a remote controlling machine by hand.
High level design
A hovercraft is a craft capable of travelling over land, water, mud or ice and other surfaces. Hovercraft are hybrid vessels operated by a pilot as an aircraft rather than a captain as a marine vessel.The mechanism of the hovercraft is mainly due to the difference between the upper air pressure and lower air pressure.The principles of the hovercraft seems easy,but engineers need to think other factors to create a more efficient type of hovercraft.So that many people have attempted to improve the functions and energy consumed of it.Nowadays hovercrafts have a variety of usage in commercial and military areas.
There are 2 areas in this project, each of them can be divided in 2 smaller parts as well:
a、mechanical part(solidworks & building)
b、controlling part(circuits & programming)
There are 2 areas in this project, each of them can be divided in 2 smaller parts as well:
a、mechanical part(solidworks & building)
b、controlling part(circuits & programming)
Soildworks
This is part of the 3D model of hovercraft created by solidworks
Building
Assemble all the components based on soildworks design
Controlling circuit
A circuit used to control the motors with a microcontroller
Controlling part
Brain of this hovercraft
Python programming
Python language taught to write a control programming
Part of the programming
An infite loop to achieve inputs from users
Soildworks:
The first step is to draw the basic shape of the hovercraft in Solidworks. It is a very useful software and the visual impact is good. Because of the 3D visual effect, the model of the hovercraft can be clearly displayed.
Building:
Firstly, we drew the body of the hovercraft to put the main stuff on it such as the raspberry pi, charge, two fans for propeling the hovercraft. Besides, two trapezium cystosepiments are used to support the fans. The big hole in the center of the hovercraft is used to put a big fan with 25 centimeters diameter in order to support the floating of the hovercraft. What is more, two rectangular cystosepiments are applied to clamp motor tightly so that it won’t fall into the ground. The principle of working of the hovercraft is to lift the craft by a cushion of air to propel it using propellers. The bigger the fan, the more collision frequencies with the air. So that it owns a greater pull force to support the whole hovercraft. The plastic bags sticked around the bottom of the hovercraft aims to prevent the loss of wind energy. It is the most difficult part of this project, therefore the dress of the hovercraft have been replaced and improved for many times. The first problem when sticking the plastic bags along the hovercraft is that the dress is not perfectly connected or even don’t overlap each other, as a result, the emission of the wind on one side of the hovercraft makes it not parallel to the ground. The second problem is that the width of the bag is to long. Then the improvement is to cut one third of the width of the hovercraft. Finally, the boat float steadily in the air.
Firstly, we drew the body of the hovercraft to put the main stuff on it such as the raspberry pi, charge, two fans for propeling the hovercraft. Besides, two trapezium cystosepiments are used to support the fans. The big hole in the center of the hovercraft is used to put a big fan with 25 centimeters diameter in order to support the floating of the hovercraft. What is more, two rectangular cystosepiments are applied to clamp motor tightly so that it won’t fall into the ground. The principle of working of the hovercraft is to lift the craft by a cushion of air to propel it using propellers. The bigger the fan, the more collision frequencies with the air. So that it owns a greater pull force to support the whole hovercraft. The plastic bags sticked around the bottom of the hovercraft aims to prevent the loss of wind energy. It is the most difficult part of this project, therefore the dress of the hovercraft have been replaced and improved for many times. The first problem when sticking the plastic bags along the hovercraft is that the dress is not perfectly connected or even don’t overlap each other, as a result, the emission of the wind on one side of the hovercraft makes it not parallel to the ground. The second problem is that the width of the bag is to long. Then the improvement is to cut one third of the width of the hovercraft. Finally, the boat float steadily in the air.
Controlling:
Compared with the building of the mechanical system, the control system of it is much easier to design. The program used to order the movement of the hovercraft is Python. At first,circuits are connected between the raspberry pi and the bread board, then input the specific programming language to ensure the normal working. As a result, the movement of the hovercraft can be controlled by the computer.
Compared with the building of the mechanical system, the control system of it is much easier to design. The program used to order the movement of the hovercraft is Python. At first,circuits are connected between the raspberry pi and the bread board, then input the specific programming language to ensure the normal working. As a result, the movement of the hovercraft can be controlled by the computer.
Future Work
明天太远
今天太短
明天太远
今天太短
There is a list of problems which could be solved in the future:
1、A lighter and cheaper material could be used because this one is a litle bit heavier
2、A set of batteries with higher power could be used to be sustainable.
3、A different microcontroller could be used to allow higher pushing power supplied.
......
1、A lighter and cheaper material could be used because this one is a litle bit heavier
2、A set of batteries with higher power could be used to be sustainable.
3、A different microcontroller could be used to allow higher pushing power supplied.
......