The
students entered the FIRST LEGO League “City Shaper Challenge”, which inspires
students by asking, “What if you could build a better world? Where
would you begin?” Student
teams are tasked to choose and solve a real-world problem, involving
building and programming an autonomous robot.
Their
mentor, Peter Chen, Professor of Computer Science at the University of Michigan,
describes the students’ idea: “Their
project involves hovercraft and earthquakes. Their idea is to protect buildings
by making them "hover" above the ground during an earthquake, similar
to how a hovercraft hovers above the ground / ice / water as it travels. They’ve
built a small prototype that demonstrates their idea with a computer fan and
LEGOs.”
The
students named their team the Hoverheads,
and titled their project “Hoverhouses”.
Hovertechnics staff welcomes the Hoverheads with their prototype Hoverhouse ...
Left to right: Robbie Sliter and Justin Peters, hovercraft builders; Duane Bourlier, Hovertechnics President; Jim Martin, assistant to the president and Hoverheads Jared, Nolan, Pascal, and Joey ...
Left to right: Robbie Sliter and Justin Peters, hovercraft builders; Duane Bourlier, Hovertechnics President; Jim Martin, assistant to the president and Hoverheads Jared, Nolan, Pascal, and Joey ...
The
Hoverheads learned from their impressive research that a technique called “base isolation” has been used since the
1970s to minimize earthquake damage to buildings. This involves constructing
buildings to rest on flexible bearings or pads known
as base isolators, which work in a manner similar to car suspension
or shock absorbers. As their presentation explains, “Current base isolation reduces acceleration by only 50%.” and “An earthquake of magnitude >7.0 occurs
every 24 days.”
Their
conclusion? Inspired by hovercraft, Hoverhouses are a better base isolation
technique: “During an earthquake, the building rises and
sits on a cushion of air. This provides better isolation between the building
and the ground and almost completely eliminates building acceleration during an
earthquake. Earthquake early warning systems provide several seconds of advance
warning to turn on the fans. Propellers keep the building from moving around
while hovering.”
Hoverhouse prototypes
In their
excitement about hovercraft technology, the students wanted to see how their
theory translated into practice. Professor Chen says, “We were interested in visiting a hovercraft manufacturer and were glad
to find that there was a prominent manufacturer right here in Michigan.” Hovertechnics
was pleased to welcome the kids and help them learn about hovercraft technology
…
The
Hoverheads demonstrate their Hoverhouse prototype
to Hovertechnics’ personnel ...
to Hovertechnics’ personnel ...
President
Duane Bourlier and his assistant Jim Martin
explain hovercraft skirts to the Hoverheads ...
explain hovercraft skirts to the Hoverheads ...
President Duane Bourlier introduces
the Hoverheads
to Hovertechnics hovercraft construction ...
Left to right: Jared, Nolan, Pascal, Joey and President Duane Bourlier ...
to Hovertechnics hovercraft construction ...
Left to right: Jared, Nolan, Pascal, Joey and President Duane Bourlier ...
Hovertechnics’
Jim Martin lets Nolan experience hovercraft safety gear …
It’s Hoverhead
Pascal’s turn to try on safety gear …
Headsets donned, (left to right)
Pascal, Nolan, Jared and Joey are ready
for their first hovercraft flight …
for their first hovercraft flight …
All set to
go! Jared takes flight with Hovertechnics’ Justin Peters …
Professor
Peter Chen says the students thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Hovertechnics. “The kids are excited about the technology
used in hovercraft, so it was a treat for them to see some real hovercraft and
learn more about them,” he reports. “The
highlight of our time was getting to ride in one of the hovercraft, and they
learned a lot about how hovercraft are designed and manufactured. Thank you for
letting us visit Hovertechnics.”
Do you think the students’ idea of using hovercraft technology to support buildings during earthquakes is unrealistic? We think you’ll change your mind when you click the link below and see how this technology has been used in a similar way …
