Team Cardinal Wings is a group of 8 Mechanical Engineering students from Lamar University who are inventing a real working hoverboard by early 2014. Follow us, sponsor us, watch us make history!

1. Purpose built
Engineered
products
built from the ground up
BEWARE: hot exhaust
Escaping from reat nozzle
1Θ=168˚
MEEN 4310 Integrated System Design
MIDTERM PRESENTATION
Kevin LaLonde Abigail Vincent
Joshua Barnes Torian Odeneal
Julio Parades Kaci Davis
1
Image from University Standard’s Manual

2. 1. Background
2. Discovery
3. Concepts
4. Specifications
5. Analysis
6. Schedule
7. Deliverables
8. Management

3. This is quite a
Delightful bevel if
Isay so myself
This curvuture of
The set top is
A call to nostalgia

4. This is quite a
Delightful bevel if
Isay so myself
This curvuture of
The set top is
A call to nostalgia
Delorian Image from deloreantimemachine.com

5. This is quite a
Delightful bevel if
Isay so myself
This curvuture of
The set top is
A call to nostalgia
Image from Back to the Future movie series

6. This is quite a
Delightful bevel if
Isay so myself
This curvuture of
The set top is
A call to nostalgia
Image from Back to the Future movie series

7. 1. Projects on YouTube®
2. DIY Hovercraft
3. Manufactured Hovercraft
4. Hovercraft Clubs
5. Experience from Video Games
6. Experience from Movies
7. Other Media

8. MARTY’S BOARD
ALURA AIRBOARD
FUTURE HORIZON
HOVERCRAFT
OUR DESIGN
Image from gizmodo.com
Image from gizmodo.com
Image from digitalspy.com
Image from uncrate.com
WEIGHT
5
1
2
1
4

9. 6-8”
Skirt height
2.5ft1.5ft
5ft
15” Diameter
not to scale
spring-loaded
throttle
rear foot strap
Triangular thrust
port
45˚ Thrust Vector
Turn assist ports
Front foot throttle
strap
Side view
Top view
Front View
Isometric View
15hp vertical
shaft engine

10. spring-loaded throttle
Front foot throttle strap
Springs
Connecting
Rods
Throttling
Flap
Port to
Vectored
Thrust
THRUST
User’s feet Restraining
foot strap
SIDE VIEW
TOP VIEW

11. Top View
z
Side View
X
X Z
Y
Y
Y

12. Turning Assist Ports Function From Skirt
Compression Due to Carving Technique
Front View
Carving Direction

13. Primary Loads
Mounted
Engine and Fan
Approx 100lbs
Board Rider
Approx 200 lbs
Top view

14. Skirt Data Bonding Method
Data from sailrite.com
From seas.columbia.edu material and parts guide for hovercraft
Plastipane 30 Gauge
Weight: 30.00 +/-1.5 oz. per sq. yard
Color: Clear
Emboss: Polished face and back
Tensile Strength (5100): 300 +/-25
lbs/in. (warp and fill)
Tear Strength (5134): 7 +/- 2 lb. (warp
and fill)
Hydrostatic Resistance (5512): 150 +/-
20 psi
Elongation at break: >300%
Good optical clarity
Flexible
UV resistant
0 degree cold crack (ASTM D 1790)
Neoprene Adhesive -- Solvent-
based, waterproof, flexible contact
cement. Bonds tenaciously. Bond
strength increases with age. Ideal for
bonding hovercraft skirt material to
itself or other surfaces, even metal
surfaces. Apply to both surfaces, let
dry for 30 mins., then mate the
surfaces for a permanent bond. Clean-
up with acetone. Amber color.

15. Lift Data Thrust Data
Data from using Hover Hawks Lift Calculator based on Jame Perozzos Book
“Hovercrafting as a Hobby” Data from hand calculations and WolframAlpha.com analysis
Given:
Board Surface Area max =12.5ft^2
Length: 5ft Max Width: 2.5ft
Payload: 300lbs
Solved:
Life Perimeter=15ft
Total Cushion Area=12.5ft^2
Cushion Pressure=24 psf
Air Velocity= 87.6 ft/s
Lift Air Volume = 55 CFS
Min Lift Engine Power = 4hp
Min Fan Diameter = 14” 47/64
Given:
Payload = 300 lbs
Wanted Velocity =20mph
Using Equations:
1) Power = Pressure * Volume Flow
2) Pressure = Force * Velocity
Solved:
• Need roughly 4 ft^2 output at 4hp
min.
• At nominal 15hp, need 1.1 ft^2

16. Cost Analysis
Material/Tools quantity Price Total Price
15 hp engine 1 $299 $299
Board material $100
Skirt material 54in*1yd $9.98 $9.98
Nuts & Bolts 1 $17.99 $17.99
Metal Rod 2 $7.67 $15.34
Total $442.31

17. Construction and materials:
The board will be constructed out of 6 plys of 1/8” Baltic
Birch. Using Baltic Birch will allow for a sturdy board, but
still some flexibility. Titebond 3 will be used to glue the
laminates together. Titebond 3 provides water resistance
and a superior bonding strength. The 6 layers will be
compressed together with a jig built specifically for
shaping this board.
Size:
The board will be 5 feet long and an estimated 2.5 feet
wide at the widest point. The shape is still under
determination. The board will be approximately 3/4”
thick.
Weight:
The board will be approximately 25lbs.
Process:
The first Baltic birch prototype will be made using a jig
and purpose built clamps. Using this setup will provide
the concave needed in the board. If a composite board is
chosen we plan on building a male mold and using a
vacuum press. Using a vacuum press will allow for even
distribution of pressure of 14.7psi over the entire board.
This will prevent air bubbles and provide a uniformly
bonded board.
3-point Bending Analysis

18. SEPTEMBER CALCULATIONS
OCTOBER PARTS & FUNDRAISING
NOVEMBER EVAL & FUNDRAISING
DECEMBER EVAL & FUNDRAISING
JAN-FEB ASSEMBLY & TESTING

19. Looking Ahead:
•Design Engine Mount & Fan Shroud
•Select Engine and Fan
•Use Data to Finalize Speed and Lift
Calculation

20. INDIVIDUAL EFFORT
•KACI : SKIRT MATERIAL , CURTIS’S BLUEPRINTS
•ABBIE : THROTTLE DESIGN, SKIRT MATERIAL
•JULIO : LIFT CALCULATIONS, CENT. FAN IDEA
•TORIAN: ENGINE PLACEMENT & TYPES
•KEVIN : CREATED PROTOTYPE
•JOSHUA : CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT, TEAM MGT.
COLLABORATION (2ME BOARD MFG)
DAVID & JOSEPH

21. Potential Models
Commercial Appeal Easy to rebuild
20mph All foot control
All-terrain Water-Proof Weather-proof

23. Purpose built
Engineered
products
built from the
ground up
BEWARE: hot
exhaust
Escaping from reat
nozzle
1Θ=168˚