1. What is a hovercraft?
- A vehicle that can travel above land or water using compressed air (http://www.seair.com/hovercraft.htm)
2. Explain the operation of several types of hovercraft designs and the advantages of each.
- Bag skirt - covers the hovercraft's perimeter.
- Segmented skirt - has different segments that press together when they are inflated.
- Jupe skirt - bases are attached to the bottom of the hovercraft.
Skirts allow the hovercraft to pass obstacles. The hovercraft can pass larger obstacles if the skirt is made higher, but if it's too tall, it can deflate (http://www.discoverhover.org/abouthovercraft/faq.htm)
3. Where and why are hovercraft used?
- Hovercraft can be used for fun or sport. They also allow you to fly over land and water, and can allow you to reach areas that normally aren't possible with normal cars. Hovercraft are also more safe and efficient than regular boats (http://www.discoverhover.org/abouthovercraft/faq.htm)
4. What are the alternatives to hovercraft and where are they used?
- Boats and trains are alternatives to hovercraft. They are used to move people around or for boats, they can be used for travel or rescue.
5. What is the history of hovercraft design and applications?
- The design for today's hovercraft comes from Sir Christopher Cockerell, who built a hovercraft with a cat food can, coffee can, and kitchen scales. It has been used for rescue operations, transporting troops and passengers over the years (http://www.discoverhover.org/abouthovercraft/history.htm)
6. What are some of the most recent hovercraft developments?
- A recent hovercraft creation is one by a New Zealand inventor. It is actually able to take off from the ground and fly in mid-air (http://www.toxel.com/tech/2010/03/06/cool-homemade-flying-hovercraft/).
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ih_KBru6Co&feature=player_embedded
8. What is the environmental impact of hovercraft?
- Hovercraft have nearly little or no effect on the environment. In comparison to normal vehicles such as boats and cars, it is much more fuel efficient, and it doesn't create as much pollution as others do. The pressure that hovercraft uses doesn't damage the environment at all (http://4wings.com.phtemp.com/faq/faq-envi.html).
9. How have hovercraft impacted society?
- Hovercraft have become more of an alternative use for vehicle choice. It is shown to be more efficient and safe to use than boats. It has also gained other uses, such as being used to transport people or rescue them.
10. Who: Individual/Organization who has made a significant contribution to the Hovercraft field.
- World Hovercraft Organization
11. What: Biographical information (date of birth, family background, education,etc.)
- Non-profit hovercraft organization that was created in 2003. Founded by Chris Fitzgerald.
12. When: Year(s) idea, product, or process was first used.
- Founded in 2003, running through 2011 and onwards.
13. Where: Location of center of work (this should include the country, state or province, and city).
- Official website: http://www.worldhovercraft.org/
14. Why: Reasons for developing the idea, product, or process.
- The World Hovercraft Organization's purpose is to provide more information and resources in the hovercraft world. It also represents and sponsors other hovercraft organizations.
15. How: Describe working conditions and obstacles that had to be overcome.
- There aren't really obstacles that the company had to overcome, it is a non-profit organization, and it has it's own magazine about hovercraft.
16. Money: Did the individual or organization profit from the ideas?
- The organization is non-profit.
17. Impact: What other events occurred as a result?
- The organization has a created a magazine called HoverWorld Insider, that gives updates and news about the hovercraft world.
Video #1:
Video # 3:
These videos did help me understand more about hovercrafts and how to make them. Specifically, video 3 helped me the most as it explains fully in detail how to make one. The method used in video 3 is simple, yet it works efficiently as a result. It has also shown me a technique to use when making a hovercraft. Air cannot be pushed out, since that will not allow the hovercraft to float. However, if air is forced to push down, it will allow the hovercraft to float. Also, it seems like making a rounded hovercraft base would be the best choice, since it doesn't have to be extremely large and it won't take too much time to make. This strategy is one that I would use when building my own hovercraft. I would probably change the seat though, so it wouldn't be as dangerous when riding it.