For these with a maker mindset, probably the most unlikely circumstances can set off an excellent concept. Take Jake Carlini, for example. He was not too long ago taking part in a recreation of air hockey and questioned what it will really feel wish to be the puck. That set his thoughts in movement, and in the end led him to the thought of constructing a wearable hovercraft in order that he may expertise the world from the vantage level of a puck.
Being a hockey puck isn’t one thing most individuals aspire to, so the blueprint for such a undertaking wasn’t precisely labored out. Carlini needed to design this hovercraft go well with totally from scratch, with out the good thing about the shared information of others. However at their core, hovercraft work on pretty easy rules, so he sketched out a fundamental design, then iterated on it till it labored as hoped.
An early check of the system (📷: Jake Carlini)
The construct started by reducing a chunk of plywood to function the bottom. This was secured to a vest, such that your complete hovercraft may very well be worn like a shirt. Subsequent, two holes have been reduce into the wooden to permit air to be pushed beneath it. Then a tarp was wrapped across the wooden and many small holes have been poked in it. This enables sufficient air to flee for a cushion of air to type for the hovercraft to trip on, mimicking the physics of an air hockey puck on a desk.
To push air beneath the car, a pair of leaf blowers have been chosen. These are worn on the again, and dryer vent tubing directs air from their shops to the holes within the base. For the reason that on-switches can’t be reached on the again, they have been modified by including lengthy wires that reach their triggers to the place they are often reached by the wearer’s fingers.
Issues have been wanting good in principle, however the go well with couldn’t deal with Carlini’s weight in real-world testing. To squeeze some extra energy out of the leaf blowers, he taped down the “turbo” buttons. This did give sufficient elevate, however together with his legs dangling behind the hovercraft, the skirt was having bother staying inflated. There was additionally no option to management the car, so ahead movement was not possible.
A check of the match (📷: Jake Carlini)
To repair up these points, Carlini strapped the heart of electrical skateboards to every of his legs. That took a number of the load off of the unsupported rear of the hovercraft, and in addition made it attainable to propel the car ahead.
This construct took various work, however in the long run it was all value it. Carlini now is aware of precisely what an air hockey puck appears like — that’s, if an air hockey puck may really feel something in any respect. Make sure to take a look at the video under so to see this hovercraft go well with in motion.
