Hovercraft transport people and their stuff across ice, grass, swamp, water, and land. Also known as the Air Cushioned Vehicle (ACV), these machines use air to greatly reduce the sliding friction between the bottom of the vehicle (the skirt) and the ground. This is a great example of how lubrication works – most people think of oil as the only way to reduce sliding friction, but gases work well if done right.
In this case, the readily-available air is shoved downward by the hover motor and the skirt traps the air and keeps it inside, thus lifting the vehicle slightly. The thruster motor’s job is to propel the craft forward. Most hovercraft use either two motors (one on each side) for steering, or just one with a rudder that can deflect the flow (as your project does).
The first hovercraft were thought about in the 1800s, but it wasn’t until the 1950s that real ones were first tested. Today, the military use them for patrolling hard-to-drive areas, scientists use them for swamp research studies, and businesses use them to transport toys and food across rough and icy areas. Scientists are already planning future ACVs to use magnetic levitation in addition to the air power… but it’s still on the drawing board.
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No, rocket engines aren’t practical with hovercraft. A rocket engine would provide too much thrust and it would be very difficult to maintain a seal with the air skirt.
Couldn’t you make the hovercraft go faster by adding a rocket engine like shroud to the back motor?
It is best to use a foam meat tray, because cardboard will most likely be too heavy. Also, your tray needs to have that “lip” so it can trap air when turned upside down.
Cardboard is going to be heavier, and you’ll need to form an edge for a “skirt” so the air cushion can be generated.
could i use cardboard instead of the meat pan??
Yes, this the smaller motor is the same one from unit 10: https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?search_type=jamecoall&catalogId=10001&freeText=231925&langId=-1&productId=231925
Instead of the wires could i just use alligator wires my dads an electrician and i already did the electricity topic so we have a lot of those I’m REALLY exited to do this project!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the email with the photos – I’ve sent you a private response. Let me know if I can help further!
I emailed these questions but then realized that maybe I should put them here (although I don’t think I can include the pictures here):
1. For the smaller motor, somehow the one that we have doesn’t seem to have the connections like you describe in the video. It has itty-bitty wires that come out of it, but on one side the wires are missing. (Actually now that I’m writing this, the wires on the other side have also mostly fallen off.) I think this motor got jumbled around in my son’s bin of science supplies and the contacts must have come off. Is there a way that we can still use this motor?
2. The only slide switch that we have is a snap circuit part and it is attached to the plastic housing with the two snap connections on either side. Is there a way that this can work for this project? We have glued it to the side of the hamburger container, but it might be too heavy or it might not work that the connections are on the front of it instead of on the back. Can this still work? Have you ever had any luck getting the electrical parts out of the plastic housing with snap circuits? They seem like they are in there to stay.
What do you think?
That’s a really good question. Normally, yes you’d match the motor with the battery, however 9V are low amperage and we need it in order to run both motors simultaneously at higher than normal speeds for low loads. Since the motor load is small (the motor doesn’t work too hard, like it would if it was pushing water), the 9V battery + 3VDC motor combo works well. If it was a 9-18V motor, you would need a much higher amp battery to get the hovercraft to float, since those motors are so much heavier.
Quick concern about using a 3vdc motor with a 9 volt battery. The motor should be rated for up to 9 vdc to avoid motor failure, such as burning out the winding or breaking the internal bearings. Correct?
It depends on the kind of foam you’re using – hot glue will not melt polystyrene, the kind that comes when you unpack delicate items like TVs and glassware from a shipping box. However, there are new types of eco-friendly foam that scientists are developing that are more sensitive to heat and glue polymers. I would try a different piece or use a different adhesive.
So we made it and it worked fine except for the hot glue melted the foam, on yours how come it did not melt the foam but ours did? ( on yours could you turn down your heat? or was the foam thicker for yours?) Also to add weight to the front we used lego peices 🙂
My brother and I are modifying this
we took the circuit board out of my remote control and are in the process of putting it on now
hopefully it will work and/or on water
You can find the right motor here:
https://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&productId=154915&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&ddkey=https:CookieLogon
This link is from the main parts list here:
https://www.sciencelearningspace2.com/2016/08/radio-shack-component-replacements/
But your “squished” motor in the video didn’t have a gear on it. Is there any place I can get one like that?
No – those are usually press-fit on, and you need a machine to get them off. However, I’ve had luck heading up the motor shaft (get an adult to do this for you) and then quickly pressing the hot gear-shaft end into a propeller and melting the prop right onto the hot shaft. Make sure when you do this you’ve got a soft, bendy type of plastic propeller or it may not work.
I got some hobby motors but they have gears Instead of a plain old shaft. Any ideas on how to get them off?
First of all, awesome job making it work at all and building it yourself! Here are some things to you try to make it even better:
1. Put in a fresh 9V battery – does that help?
2. Remove the battery and hold it above the hovercraft in your hand, so its weight isn’t on the hovercraft any longer… does it move faster now?
3. Make sure that there are no air leaks around the perimeter of the hovercraft where it contacts the table. I noticed when I made mine from paper that it would always have air leakage problems. When I switched it out for a foam plate, those issues totally disappeared.
Hope this helps! Great job!
Aurora
I built it but it moves forward very slowly, I don’t know if that is because I used a paper plate for the base or if I have two of the same motors? Other than that it works fine.
So the fan doesn’t hit the shroud. 🙂
Why do you need the shroud to be elevated?
I’ve sent you a private email. 🙂
Aurora, When I click on that link you sent, it just talks about how radioshack parts are not easy to get any more. You mentioned if we get motors from the shopping list we should be good, but it didn’t say to get a flat sided motor. This is what we cannot find. In the video you said to be sure to get a flat sided motor. We’ve been everywhere. We went to the last hobby shop that has very upscale RC parts and all his motors are round as well. We went online and all we can find is a flat sided motor from FRANCE!!! So please let us know where we can get a flat sided motor. Thanks. pat
Hi Pat! The motors can both be the same – if you got the ones from the shopping list, then you should be fine.
I am sorry you had so much trouble getting the items… I will put it in my notes for this project that exact foam tray measurements aren’t necessary. One kid even wrote in that he used a foam paper plate when he couldn’t find a rectangular meant tray, and it worked! I sent you an email response about propellers last week, and sent you a packet of propellers that same day via mail, so you should have it very soon!
For future projects that need specialty parts like this one, you can use our master spreadsheet list here: https://www.sciencelearningspace2.com/2016/08/radio-shack-component-replacements/ that show you exactly which parts and where to order them online. Does that help?
We are sitting here finally with all our parts and my daughter still cannot do this. We got the two motors, but did not realize til we got into the video that the one has to be flat sided. We have spent so much time getting all the stuff together for this, including driving to several grocery stores to find the right size foam tray, leaning into the meat cases with my tape measure. After many days and miles of gathering, now we still can’t do it. I had emailed you several days ago about the propellers and had not heard back, but Crystal did send me an email and sent propellers out. Now we need to know where to get the right motor. I am so frustrated……………….please tell us where to get this motor.
My dad is a electrician so I had all the parts btw this thing is AWESOME
That is COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ll have my team contact you right away!
You’ll find shopping lists here:
https://www.sciencelearningspace2.com/category/shopping-list/unit-1-shop-list/
Another question, where do i buy the parts
It says that i don’t have access to this section is there a way to fix that
Thanks
Cailon
Radio Shack at the moment, but we’re also putting together a new set of part numbers to replace all the Radio Shack parts, which will be available soon!
where is a scource for purchasing the motors
Hi Carol,
If you’d like, you can send a SASE to us and we can ship these out to you for $3 per propeller, but that’s the only way we can do this as we’re not currently set up to take orders for small parts any longer. If this doesn’t work due to time, you might try a hobby store or get one of those rubber-band-powered wood balsa flyers that are only a couple of dollars and take the propeller from it. Hope this helps!
Hi Aurora: My grandson wants to build the hovercraft project obtained from the e-science list; however, I am not able to locate the propellers for the motors. Do you have these available in a kit that I can purchase and receive like yesterday since the project is due soon? Your assistant would be greatly appreciated and welcome. Thanks so very much
I’ve sent you a private email… 🙂
I was wondering where the link is for sending the SASE to you for the propellers? Thanks.
No, two blade props work great. I would turn it into more of an experiment where you need to find the one that works best (just like a real scientist would do…) 🙂
I found 2 blade 4 inch propellers on amazon, or 2 blade 75 mm propellers. Do I need 3 blade propellers?
You can use two of the same motors – you may need to adjust the weight a little bit so it’s balanced, but with a fresh 9V it should still work. I am sorry…I thought you referring to the kit we provide for this video that is included with the Science Mastery program. The propellers are something you can find at a hobby store, or we provide them with a SASE as shown in the comments here. 🙂
So may I suggest that you change the shopping list to match the video. I shopped for the motors and then when we watched the video we found out we didn’t have the right things. It was frustrating. A link to order the propellers would be nice also.
You need the lighter one as the hovering motor… watch the video to see how these are different.
Why do you say to buy 2 3V DC motors (make sure it’s a high-speed motor like this motor) in your list of things needed and then say two have two different sized motors in the video?
I’ll have my team connect with you right away!
I had access to the advanced hovercraft a couple of weeks ago and now I don’t. I bought all of the materials to make it but now it looks like I can’t see the video.
Amazing! This exercise helps my child understand!
Yup – you can still do this. Just it in to us for however many you need and we’ll help you out!
I found your post about sending the SASE to you for the propellers, thanks!
I am having the same problem finding 3-inch propellers. Please help!
Wow. Your customer service covers my science naivete! Maybe if we do this long enough, even I (Mom) will get it!
Good catch on keeping the lesson without throwing out the whole experience! I am sending you something by mail that I think you’ll find useful. Keep an eye out for it!
This was frustrating. Everything seems to be working properly, but one of our styrofoam pieces is way too warped on one end. I think we need a smaller straw for the rudder–more like a stirring stick? My kids also learned not to substitute tape when you say glue. I had to rip half of it apart to get to the motor underneath that was taped onto the skewers. Valuable lesson in following directions, I’d say.
I’ll have my team contact you right away!
Help – I cannot find 3 inch propellers anywhere!! Can you send me a link where I can order a few. We have everything else but are waiting on the propellers.
Thank you!
What happens if you reload the page, or try a different computer?
The video wont play! I am connected to the internet and everything but its not working. It just keeps loading and loading ad infinitum.
Let’s check a few things first: does it hover? It sounds like it does if it’s slowly spinning in a circle. Get down and put your eyes right at the level of the bottom edge of the big tray and see if there’s a gap between the tray and the table (or floor). If there is, there’s an air leak and you need to sand the edges down a little more so there’s no gap at all, all the way around. If it spins in a circle, that’s usually because it is dragging a corner or the batteries aren’t very fresh. You mentioned holding the battery and it did the same thing – my guess is that the batteries you are using aren’t at their full charge, since when you hold them, this usually lightens up the load considerably, and it usually will zoom off as soon as you do this. Let me know how it goes… and keep trying! I know you can do it!
I have hooked it up from the kit. It doesn’t do anything except slowly turn in a circle. I have checked the motor directions and they are correct I think. I have tried several cup configurations over the propeller but with no success. I even tried holding the battery and it did the same thing. I sanded the edges and corners quite a bit and they look pretty smooth. Any Ideas?
Thanks,
The materials for this project are included in the Science Mastery program.
How do I get the kit????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
You’re welcome! 🙂 Happy to help make your life easier so you can do more cool stuff with your kids…like science experiments!
Thank you SO MUCH for the written directions! We watched the video all the way through, but I think it will be handy to have the directions right by us in the kitchen for quick reference while we are doing it. Have a great day!
We’ve never had written directions for the hovercraft since it’s such a complicated project, but I went ahead and posted them for you with the experiment since you asked. You’ll want to refer to the video for the steps, since the video is going to be a lot more clear when building your project. Hope this helps!
Are there written directions for this experiment? I have the Diamond Mastery Program (and Love it), but I don’t see written directions for the hovercraft. Are they here and printable? Thanks!
Thanks Aurora
Check your email – we’ll help you out so you don’t have to fuss and worry about the hassle of getting the right ones. 🙂
sorry, I meant to type 80mm=abt 3″ (yawn…need to give it up and go to bed) 😉
No i didn’t know about the offer to subscribers.
One more:.
They sell on ebay from China. Not so great, but they say 7-14day shipping. $3.79 for 2 propellers, which includes shipping. These have 3 blades and a 2mm shaft, which I think is the same as the DC motor recommended. And 80mm diameter, which is a little over 4″ Will this work Aurora?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221147759154?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
The one from home training tools is meant only for water, so I’d get that one for the underwater robots you’re building. The rest are meant for air, but I notice they are expensive. Did you know we have a special thing we do for our subscribers regarding propellers? I’ll send you a personal message…
or this one: http://www.hometrainingtools.com/propeller-plastic/p/EL-PROPELL/
Does the propeller have to be 3″ diameter? I found these:
Two blade 4″: http://www.amazon.com/Guillow-Guillows-4-Plastic-Propeller/dp/B0006OBI4W/ref=pd_bxgy_t_text_z
Three blade 5 x 3 whatever that means:
http://www.amazon.com/Gemfan-3-Blade-Propeller-Micro-Spider/dp/B0091PB3EC/ref=sr_1_42?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1375672516&sr=1-42&keywords=3+propeller
Having the hardest time finding the 3″ diameter propellers….also the foam meat tray. If anyone has a link for where to buy, please share.
Awesome! I know you’re really going to get a lot out of the program. 🙂
Don’t worry: I am getting SILVER!!!!
which has all the materials for hovercraft
Sounds like a DPDT switch. Just use the three that are all in a row on one side and ignore the rest.
We got a switch from Radio Shack and only now see that it has (3) pairs of tabs. Any idea which to connect?
This is a hard question to answer without seeing your project in person. If I were you, I’d first make sure each motor turned when power is applied to it by connecting each directly to the battery for a second (not too long, as 9V is too much for most hobby motors). Next, I would make sure that the switch is working properly, so add that to your circuit. Last, re-watch the video and make sure you’ve got the wires hooked up exactly as shown. If you try all these steps and it still doesn’t work, the last thing to check are the wires themselves – trade them out for a new pair and see if that fixes it. You can do it! 🙂
i almost have it all put together but when i wired it up only one of the motors turns. is there anything i can do to get them both turning??
You want to choose something that is easy to work with and very lightweight. Since foam is both these things and cheap, it’s the one I recommend… but do let me know what else you find that works!
Okay! Thank you!
🙂 Science is best! 🙂
Aurora,
I want to know if there is an alternative to foam cups, hamburger boxes, and meat trays.
Can we use plastic, or something else? Or we have to use foam?
Thank you so much!!
I think about a hundred years ago, one of the people that worked for the patent office said that everything that could be invented already was… boy was he wrong! 🙂 That was before jet aircraft, computers, and cell phones. My point is, he discouraged a lot of people who chose to listen to him. You have everything you need right now, believe it or not. You don’t have to find the cure for cancer to make an impact on someone’s life. For every hundred ideas that don’t work or no one ever finds out about, you’ll get one or two gems.
The best scientists are the ones that do science because they have a passion for it, a love of learning, and an insatiable curiosity. And they know their outcome and don’t lose sight of their goal, no matter how rough it gets. You’ll figure out how to get there if your reasons for wanting your goal are strong enough.
Think about it this way: most kids can walk, not because they studied walking from a book or thought about it really hard about it while sitting around. They did it because they knew they wanted to – they had a clear vision in mind and worked at it, trying different things (some of which didn’t work), until they finally figured out how to do it. The result is that most people on the planet can walk.
There’s no difference between babies learning how to walk and what you’re asking about. All you need is a clear vision and a driving purpose, and you’ll figure out a way to do it. You will realize who you are along the way, knowing that you’re constantly changing and growing as you go. I choose goals for myself not based on what I think the goal will give me, but who I will become in the process. I don’t know if this makes sense, but I hope it helps a little.
Looks good for a title, but you might want to try: “An ACV” so it reads easier. Or you can try a different subtitle, since most people don’t know what ACV stands for, so you might have to get creative, like: “Hovercraft: Riding on a Cushion of Air” or “Hovercraft: Floating through all Seasons”… you get the idea. 🙂 Keep up the great work!
Aurora, I want to be someone famous when i get older. I want to make something that people will use and like. But I don’t know what has not been created. I’m kinda like the guy on cloudy with a chance of meatballs. Its not really because i want to be famous but…… I want to be more than just me.
Raena age 11
I am doing a science fair project on hovercrafts and this is my title:
Hovercraft
A ACV that can be used for all seasons.
Tell me what you think please.
yes thank you
Cool! Nice work! Most students would have given up, but you not only got to finish a really cool project, but I am guessing you also sharpened your resilience and troubleshooting skills along the way… an added bonus, which will also make your next science project go all the more smoothly. Send me an image (via email) and I’ll post it to the site so everyone can see your project!
I finally finished it… it took 28 days. What i had to do is use a 9v battery, and a battery pack. One for each motor because they only go fast that way. I also read one of the comments that you said and used it. To hold the batteries so that it was lighter. This is sooooooo awesome!!!! 😀
I cant wait to build this hovercraft
It looks fine, although these are more expensive than the ones from Radio Shack I think.
I found the propellers, switch, motors and battery clip parts on Amazon if anyone is still looking. Is this motor ok? Can I use two of them and be fine?
http://www.amazon.com/Aristo-Craft-Cermag-Motor-1-5-3V-7600RPM/dp/B000BRHEGU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359000877&sr=8-1&keywords=1.5-3v+dc+motor
I found the propellers, switch, motors and battery clip parts on Amazon if anyone is still looking.
HTH
Right – you can use anything that’s lightweight to support the motor. Does that help?
I mean what is on the hole cut out in the bottom
A skewer? The bottom of the hovercraft is made out of foam if you’re using it on land, or that gray foam tubing if you’re making it to work on water.
can you use anything besides a skewer for the bottom of the hovercraft
Plastic is a lot heavier (and louder) than foam, but I’ll bet you can still get it working. Did you notice how the battery sits on top? What happens if you remove the battery and hold it? Does it hover now? You might need longer wires attached to make it work right with this modification, but this will decrease your weight significantly. Let me know how it goes!