Robotic Hovercraft

This is the entire computer, sensing, and control of the hovercraft, with one exception: Two of the servos are replaced with electronic speed controls for the fans. You can see the PIC-based processor in the center. Two optical mice read position information from the ground under the hovercraft; two servos position the fans, and two controllers vary the speed of the fans.

Here it is assembled. The mice are set at a specific height over a set of lenses, so an image of the ground is projected onto their underside. THere's a lift fan in the very center, and the processor directly over it. Everything is balanced so the hovercraft doesn't lean.

Anthony and I, testing it out late the night before the demo.

Underneath the hovercraft - you can see the LEDs we use to illuminate the ground, and the lens in the center of each LED cluster. The skirt is rip-stop nylon, the body is 1/4" plywood and blasa.