Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!mcsun!hp4nl!sara5!amccca!jonker
From: jonker@amc.uva.nl
Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Subject: Re: Small Hovering Hobby Robots
Message-ID: <1991Jun24.091038.238@amc.uva.nl>
Date: 24 Jun 91 09:10:38 GMT
References: <00949D78.A594B600@vms.csd.mu.edu> <25523@well.sf.ca.us> <1991Jun20.155520.12703@sagpd1>
Lines: 19

In article <1991Jun20.155520.12703@sagpd1>, monty@sagpd1 writes:
> 	This discussion of hovercraft has made me think of a possible
>     way to increase stabilty. What if some or each of the "props" that
>     are supplying the air pressure were sort of wheel shaped. The spokes
>     would be the lifting/pressure blades and the outer ring would act like 
>     a gyroscope. This would make banking difficult. 
have three of these on each corner of a triangle. Trim the machine to have
just enough 'lift' for hoovering within the groundeffect range.
>     In a rc vehicle you would run the props at a constant speed and
>     use servo controlled air valves to vary the amount of lift. For that
>     matter it might be better in a full size vehicle to run the props at
>     a constant speed to aid in noise  and smog emmision control.
add a fourth engine in the middle with just the spokes (ie. a normal
propellor) that can be tilted. No need for comples nozzles, or what
soever. This is the only engine that can be regulated to maneuver in
all directions. Seems to me the whole object can be steered by just one 
joystick, that is, if you can compensate the rotary forces of the
center engine. By stationary fan blades mounted in the duct? Catches?
ard