S.P.I.C.E. REPORT 
Airboat

tntbusch88@hotmail.com
    

SITUATION:
To design, build and test an airboat in room A140.

PROBLEMS:

Using the power of a 9 volt electrical motor, design an airboat that will start 
from rest and travel 2 meters in water in the shortest time.

POSSIBILITIES:
#
Pros
Cons
Interesting
1 
-light in weight
-motor won't get wet
 because it wasn't near water
-cuts through water
 
-might tip over (unstable)
-harder to make than 
 others

-it's like a 
 catamaran
2 
-stable
-cuts through water

-might be heavy
-might not go very fast
-uses lots of foam
 
-shaped like a real
 boat hull
3 
-lighter (than #2)
-stable


-won't cut through water
-heavy


-has won a few 
 times (found out after discussing
 previous winners with older
 student)
 

Materials:  Hull:

Kinder Surprise			
Styrofoam					 		
Some aluminum
Film case
Some wood
				
We chose this boat because it has a 
planing style hull which is more aerodynamic. 
After discussing the airboat project with 
older students, we found that this type has
previously won, because it does
have a big hull or keel to cause more friction.  
Therefore the boat will go faster with less friction 
causing it to slow down.

IDEAS:

CHOOSE: 
EVALUATION:
 A. Quantified =
  0 sec. X 50 = 0
  3.27 sec.	   50

  B. Qualified =



 

 

  1. The strengths of our boat were a stable hull, a well waterproofed motor and battery, and the boat was fairly light. The weaknesses of our boat were the hull was not perfectly symmetrical, we needed a keel to help keep the boat moving straight and the propeller was not perfectly centered.
  2. The problems we encountered were connection the motor. Our wires kept breaking and we would have to start over. We solved that problem by receiving help and we figured out we weren't putting enough of the wire through. Another problem we encountered was deciding if we should angle the front of the hull or leave it flat. After speaking with grade 11's we found that the flat fronted hull was considered faster. So we designed our boat with a flat fronted hull. Another problem we encountered was a battery with low power, so we tested a variety of batteries until we found a proper one.
  3. We would improve the design by making sure that the hull was symmetrical. We would also angle the front of the hull so that the boat would be more hydrodynamic. We would also try to make the boat lighter.
  4. We learned that a catamaran, when perfectly symmetrical, cuts through water quite well. (Rehanna's group) We learned that having a charged battery can definitely help your boat win. (Derek's group) We also learned that the shape of the hull really makes the difference. (Jacob's group)
  5. The 3 main things we learned were that measurements are extremely important in your design. We also learned that we should have made a place to hold the battery centered. Last, we learned we should have put a keel to help keep the boat straight.