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<HTML> <BODY BGCOLOR="FFFFFF" TEXT="000000" LINK="000099" ALINK="ff0000" VLINK="000099"> <HEAD><TITLE> RC Hovercraft Challenge </TITLE></HEAD> Dear Braketta, <br> <br> I've sent you thirteen "RC GH-2 Radio Control Hovercraft Kits", and as well as a few extra parts which I'll discuss below. <br><br> The standard RC GH-2 kit ordinarily comes with the following documentation, which includes an instruction booklet which shows how to quickly put together an RC hovercraft using a very simple but effective RC steering system (see page 8 of the booklet). <br><br> <a href="original-RC-instructions.pdf"><b>The RC GH-2 Instruction Booklet</b></a> 2 MB pdf (Print out 1 to examine)<br> <a href="compact-smart-charger.pdf"><b> Smart Charger Instruction Sheet</b></a> 16 KB pdf<a/> (Print out 13 copies)<br> <a href="additional-important-information.pdf"><b>Additional Important Information</b></a> 12 KB pdf<a/> (Print out 13 copies)<br> <br> Instead of giving the above instruction booklet to the students, I suggest that the students be challenged to come up with their own RC steering system, given:<br> a) the parts in the kits, <br> b) an instruction booklet in which the steering system instructions have been "censored", and<br> c) a general introduction to hovercraft control systems.<br><br> I've prepared the following for you:<br><br> <a href="censored-RC-instructions.pdf"><b> A "censored" version of the RC Instruction Booklet</b></a> 1.7 MB pdf (Print out 13 copies)<br> A webpage on <a href="./control-methods/control-methods.html"> <b>Hovercraft Control Methods</b> </a> (Print out 13 copies) <br><br> As you can see from the control methods webpage, there are a lot of ways to control a hovercraft, and many (but not all) of the methods illustrated on the webpage can be implemented with the model kit. <br><br> To increase the number of control methods available to the students, I've enclosed a third motor (and associated duct, propeller, and wire harness) with each kit. This additional motor will require either some additional instruction to the students, or some extra prep work by your staff. I've written up a short note that describe the limitations of the third motor. In the note, I propose two ways that the limitations can be overcome, and <u>I also suggest a way that the limitation can be accepted and used as an educational opportunity for the students. </u> The tech note also covers the extra batteries and the wall charger which were included with the kits. <br><br> <a href="tech-note.html"><b>Tech Note</b></a> (Print out 1 per instructor) <br><br> For the competition itself, I'm imagining that the students will design their own steering system and then run an obstacle course. My concern is that this might all be too easy: it is possible that the students will quickly assemble the hovercraft using the instructions, realize that a rudder system is the easiest control system to implement, and then quickly build a rudder system. If you share this concern, one possibility is to simply ban rudder systems from the competition. On the other hand, perhaps the students will come up with all sorts of rudder systems - it might be interesting for everyone to compare the different designs. Another way to make the challenge hard is to give extra points for a reverse system. Alternatively, you might want to focus on hovercraft construction techniques -- one way to do this would be to remove the blue pre-cut foam parts from the kits. Another alternative is to focus on performance or efficiency. For example, the hovercraft might be required to carry a heavy weight while it completes the course, and a hovercraft that can operate for the longest time by conserving battery life might get extra points. <br><br> For completeness, I'm including a link to our non-RC "Design Your Own Hovercraft Kit". If you decide to alter the nature of the competition, you might find this version of the instruction booklet useful:<br><a href="freeflight-instructions.pdf"><b>The GH-C Design-Your-Own-Hovercaft Freeflight Instructions</b></a> 2.7 MB pdf<a/><br> <br>I hope the engineering challenge goes well and everyone has fun. If I can be helpful in further developing the materials or in answering any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. I look forward to hearing how it all turns out - I wish I could be there! <br><br> Sincerely, <br><br> Eric Goldstein<br> Goldstein Hovercraft, LLC<br> <br><br> <br> Eric Goldstein <br> Goldstein Hovercraft, LLC <br> 1965 Bordeaux Ct. <br> Wheeling, IL 60090 <br> phone: 847-392-7510 <br> fax: 240-248-8736 <br> email: [email protected]<br> web: <a href="http://www.gohover.com"><b>www.GoHover.com</b></a> <br> <br><br>