Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!linus!philabs!ttidca!hollombe
From: hollombe@ttidca.TTI.COM (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Small Hovering Hobby Robots
Message-ID: <26776@ttidca.TTI.COM>
Date: 10 Jun 91 18:48:44 GMT
References: <00949D78.A594B600@vms.csd.mu.edu>
Organization: The Cat Factory
Lines: 23

In article <00949D78.A594B600@vms.csd.mu.edu> 6843brooksj@vms.csd.mu.edu writes:
}... I am considering
}trying to construct something that use three or four small ducted aimable
}electric fans.  ... My main concern
}is obviously getting fans small/light enough with thrust sufficent to
}lift the platform.  I have experiemented with a small ducted fan that
}could lift its own weight (and a little more) but I need something 
}quite a bit more powerful.  ...

How high off the ground to you want it to hover?  If the idea is simply to
eliminate wheels and tracks, consider a hovercraft design.  Putting a
skirt around the base of the platform greatly increases ground effect and
lifting ability.

I know toy hovercraft are available off the shelf.  I don't recall if any
are electric powered.  If you're controlling fan thrust with the ducts,
then a small gas engine may be the power source you need.

-- 
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe, M.A., CDP, aka: hollombe@ttidca.tti.com)
Head Robot Wrangler at Citicorp                   Illegitimis non
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.   (213) 450-9111, x2483       Carborundum
Santa Monica, CA  90405 {rutgers|pyramid|philabs|psivax}!ttidca!hollombe