Hovercraft B/C

[NilaiVemula]

Has anyone else had significantly different motor speeds based on changes in battery charge/voltage?

[QuantumEcho]

There is a pdf for Hovercraft on the Soinc website. It includes general Event Supervisor tips as to how to properly run the event, and an example track setup for the 2017-2018 year. It is on this page, scroll down and click on "Hovercraft Divisions B & C Event Supervisor Guide for 2018", or you can just directly open it here.

[Buildnurd]

Has anyone else had significantly different motor speeds based on changes in battery charge/voltage?

Yes, our team has run into some issues with batteries. We can have our hovercraft run and finish the track in 5 seconds. Run it again with the same battery and have it drastically slow down in the middle of the track to the point where it won't move forward. Our current solution is to carry many spare batteries and switch them out after ever successful run to ensure stable results. We carry 2 sets of batteries. If that's what you mean by charge. As far as voltage we haven't really seen anything change, we just use the correct voltage that is intended for our motor. We have found though that the milliamp hours do impact the battery life, higher milliamp hours like 3000 have lasted us longer than batteries with smaller milliamp hour ratings like 1600.

[cheese]

I had a potentiometer, so every run, I would measure the voltage of the batteries, and with that I could incorporate that in to the ohms law equation to get the same results through different amounts of resistance based on that voltage.

[zannash]

My hovercraft is almost ready for the first invitational, but there is one problem. We did not buy good propellers. Anyone have any recommendations for propellers? It would really help. Preferably available on amazon, as the invitational is in a week and my dads amazon prime account is the only way we can get them in time.

[xingal02]

Hello
I was wondering if we are allowed to use different batteries for different runs. For example, if one set of batteries died during the first run, could we switch them out for a new set for our following runs?

[reed303]

Hello
I was wondering if we are allowed to use different batteries for different runs. For example, if one set of batteries died during the first run, could we switch them out for a new set for our following runs?

1. The rules do not prohibit switching batteries.

2. The rules do say: Part II: Vehicle Testing d.Teams have a total of 8 minutes to adjust and repair their vehicle and make 5 failed or 2 successful runs."

[GingkathFox]

Paraphrased changes from last year
New: If teams impound their device, 3 points will be added to their final score.

Do you mean "If teams miss impound"?

[GingkathFox]

It says "The vehicle may have up to two motors each rotating one propeller/impeller." When I searched up what an impeller was (I've never heard of it before), it was showing it used for pumping water. are there any other uses for it?

[ftf841]

It says "The vehicle may have up to two motors each rotating one propeller/impeller." When I searched up what an impeller was (I've never heard of it before), it was showing it used for pumping water. are there any other uses for it?

You can find an impeller on many blower style CPU fans. They make for good lift fans because they generate a lot of static pressure.