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3D Printed
A Need For Speed
A Need For Speed
After making my 3D printed airboat, I wanted to try my hands at something sleek and agile. Enter, the 3D printed speed boat from Petersripol! With a 3 part hull design, detachable canopy and a propulsion system that uses my existing airplane motors, I was eager to put my hat in the ring. After extensive research on how boats work and how RC boats remain functional in the water, I got to work.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenges and Solutions
Propeller Ventilation
Propeller Ventilation
After building my first rendition of the speed boat, I immediately noticed a problem with the propulsion. Even at full throttle, the propeller failed to bite into the water and the boat went nowhere. What was the issue?
Boat ventilation occurs when too much air is introduced to the area around a propeller, causing the propeller to actually slip past the water and spin faster as it experiences less resistance. This causes an air pocket to form around the propellers as the props fail to grip the water, and the boat's thrust is severely reduced. How is this solved?
Number and Pitch of Propeller Blades
Number and Pitch of Propeller Blades
The first step was the increase both the pitch and the number of propeller blades. By using three blades with a more aggressive angle instead of two less aggressive blades, the propeller should be able to bite into the water. Ideally, this would prevent propeller slip and prevent air from getting mixed into the propeller spin.
Voltage and Power
Voltage and Power
After using more aggressive propellers, the next step was to up the voltage. Power is the electrical equivalent to an engine's horse power. Power is equivalent to voltage multiplied by current, and power is directly proportional to the motor's torque. Therefore, I increased power and torque by increasing system voltage from 11.1V to 14.8V.
Final Testing
Final Testing
Better, but What Next?
Better, but What Next?
The propeller upgrade and voltage increase seemed to help considerably. As shown, the propeller no long slips at full throttle and can begin cruising comfortably along the water. The battery supplied enough power for about 5 minutes of runtime, and thankfully nothing exploded from the extra volts! However, I believe there is still room for improvement.
In the future, I hope to try further upgrading certain electronic components. Parts like the speed controllers became really hot after short bursts of speed, thus holding back the potential of the motors. Additionally, the design of the boat, with the propellers being so close to the surface and lacking space to grab the water, may require revisiting and tweaking. The story concludes for now, but the future has only begun!
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