E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving

HOVERCRAFT RACE
Competition Criteria
Objective: Design and build a hovercraft that will navigate a course in the shortest time possible.
Requirements, Constraints & Resources:
HOVERCRAFT
1. The hovercraft may be powered by battery or ac power via an extension cord.
2. Gasoline powered craft will not be allowed.
3. The design may not incorporate any parts of commercially available hovercraft,
helicopter or hovercraft kit. Use or suspected use of such parts will result in immediate
disqualification.
4. The hovercraft should allow for required movement within the race track without any part
of the craft going off the track (see COURSE requirements & constraints).
5. Any decisions regarding disqualification made by judges will be final.
6. The hovercraft may not be pushed or pulled by team members.
7. The hovercraft must be tested at an official FEDD pre-event, which will take place one
week before FEDD (Tuesday, 11/18/2014). Time and location TBA. This FEDD preevent is mandatory. Groups not represented at this event will not be allowed compete
at FEDD.
8. The following resources may be of assistance: http://www.rqriley.com/hc-calc.html,
http://www.hoverhawk.com/lcalc.html , http://www.hoverhawk.com/propspd.html
9. As with all FEDD projects, this project must be completed within a $40 budget. Found,
borrowed or previously owned materials are not considered part of the project budget.

COURSE
10. The course will be laid out on a floor that will be a non-carpeted surface inside the
McKimmon Center ballroom. (Students should test their craft on multiple surface types
to ensure the craft is capable of completing the course).
11. The floor surface may not be perfectly flat (this should be considered during design).
12. The course will be less than forty linear feet in length and 1.5 feet in width.
13. The course will be straight and contain NO turns.

RESEARCH COMPONENT:
14. Review literature on the history of hovercrafts. Provide a brief summary of some major
milestones in the evolution of hovercrafts. Use at least three reliable sources (maximum
of one internet-based). Your sources must be cited and presented in a standard format
such as APA or MLA.
15. Explore one hovercraft-related US patent.
16. Following construction of your hovercraft present an explanation of how your hovercraft
works. Include sources and at least one diagram (airflow, circuit, etc.) to accompany the
written description of how your hovercraft functions.

Guru Contact Info: Dr. Laura Bottomley

For questions: look to the Wiki site for FAQs and then contact Dr.
Bottomley at laurab@ncsu.edu if answer cannot be found.

E 101: Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving

HOVERCRAFT RACE
Competition Criteria
Competition Judging & Winning: The team that is assessed the most points based on the
following competition rubric will win the competition. Judges can assess up to the maximum
number of points listed per category, based on how well the individual design performs in that
category. In the event of a tie, competition judges will make the final decision on place. On
Design Day, the judges must be able to verify that the design meets the above criteria;
otherwise the team will be disqualified.
Hovercraft Race Judging Rubric
FRESHMAN ENGINEERING DESIGN DAY
Team Name:
Team Members:

Section/Instructor:
Competition Criteria

Points

Meets basic competition requirements:

Attended FEDD pre-event
Battery-power or line-power (no gasoline-power)
Research component provided
The fastest competitor will be awarded 200 points. The second
fastest competitor will be awarded 195 points, etc.
Course was completed (time in seconds):

_______

Number of times craft violated course boundary (penalty):

____X -3

Craftsmanship (professional appearance and presentation)

/5

BONUS: Hovercraft remotely navigated.

+5

BONUS: On board power source.

+5

Total Points