YAMAHA
WaveRunner Papa Neil Kobayashi's Design Room
Human powered - A.C.V.
Characteristics of Human powered - A.C.V. (Air Cushion Vehicle)
The Human powered Air Cushion Vehicle is a manually operated craft with a small, lightweight hull containing air for flotation.
The vehicle consists of a fan in order to intake air into the hull and to lift the body, a skirt shaped hull to support flotation, and a manually operated propeller device. This vehicle is a Human Hybrid of manual power and powered flotation which aims to raise the question: "How could a manual powered vehicle be so fast?"
An air fan, either electric or engine powered, forces air inside inside the skirt section of the hull in order to create the lift required for flotation.
This dramatically reduces water resistance while in motion, and can achieve high speeds with only a small amount of power required from the operator. Various methods of propulsion (pedal, rowing, etc.) can be selected depending on the desired purpose of the vehicle. Structural improvements are required (such as a skirted hull) to reduce water spray from the air fan.
This plan shows the "pedal type" and "rowing type" propelled by foot and oars respectively.
The "pedal type" is a single-seater vehicle featuring skirts on side walls of the hull and a seat at its center. The air fan for creating lift is located at the rear and the pedals are at the front where the rider's feet will be placed. The force generated through the pedal is transferred to the drive shaft via a sprocket and chain mechanism, and propulsion is achieved by the propeller. The vehicle can move backwards by operating pedals in the opposite direction. Moving the handle bar located in front of the seat will allow the vehicle to be turned.
The "rowing type" also has skirts on side walls of the hull, and at the center of the hull, there is an air fan for creating lift along with seating. Oars are placed in the oar catches on the left and the right edges of the deck and move the boat accordingly when operated.
Both types reduce water resistance on the hull by creating lift, and are powered manually. The mechanical power is designed solely for the purpose of lifting the hull out of the water, while all propulsion is generated manually. This enables one of the fastest speeds achievable in manual powered craft, and I am looking forward to seeing the emergence of a new category of marine sports.
The Human powered Air Cushion Vehicle is a manually operated craft with a small, lightweight hull containing air for flotation.
The vehicle consists of a fan in order to intake air into the hull and to lift the body, a skirt shaped hull to support flotation, and a manually operated propeller device. This vehicle is a Human Hybrid of manual power and powered flotation which aims to raise the question: "How could a manual powered vehicle be so fast?"
An air fan, either electric or engine powered, forces air inside inside the skirt section of the hull in order to create the lift required for flotation.
This dramatically reduces water resistance while in motion, and can achieve high speeds with only a small amount of power required from the operator. Various methods of propulsion (pedal, rowing, etc.) can be selected depending on the desired purpose of the vehicle. Structural improvements are required (such as a skirted hull) to reduce water spray from the air fan.
This plan shows the "pedal type" and "rowing type" propelled by foot and oars respectively.
The "pedal type" is a single-seater vehicle featuring skirts on side walls of the hull and a seat at its center. The air fan for creating lift is located at the rear and the pedals are at the front where the rider's feet will be placed. The force generated through the pedal is transferred to the drive shaft via a sprocket and chain mechanism, and propulsion is achieved by the propeller. The vehicle can move backwards by operating pedals in the opposite direction. Moving the handle bar located in front of the seat will allow the vehicle to be turned.
The "rowing type" also has skirts on side walls of the hull, and at the center of the hull, there is an air fan for creating lift along with seating. Oars are placed in the oar catches on the left and the right edges of the deck and move the boat accordingly when operated.
Both types reduce water resistance on the hull by creating lift, and are powered manually. The mechanical power is designed solely for the purpose of lifting the hull out of the water, while all propulsion is generated manually. This enables one of the fastest speeds achievable in manual powered craft, and I am looking forward to seeing the emergence of a new category of marine sports.
- No-1:Pedal Type
- No-2:Rowing Type
