Data
Tuesday 18th August, 1998
Finally ran A.C.V. on runway strip next to Time,s Up harbourside laboratory.
Problems:
#A.C.V. appears to be running underpower, around3100rpm tachometer left in Australia
#Inside ply ring which was cut down appears to be effecting pressure of flow into skirt
#Fuel problem?? To higher octane level?? 98 grade
#Pitch on 3 fan blades appear to have moved in transport
Possible Solutions:
#Try new fuel. 95 Grade + less oil mix 1-30?
#Make new ring, original left in Australia
#Correct pitch on fan
Wednesday 19th August
Spent most of day looking around for alternative engines
Tracked down a rotax 232 2-Stroke engine $11500 shillings
#Corrected pitch on fan
#tried out new fuel, standard super 95 1:40 mix
Eventually ran A.C.V. at wharfs across the Donau from the harbouside laboratory
Found small but very flat and smooth concrete surface
A.C.V. sucessfully demonstrates control theory we aimed to achieve though the realisation that more torque could truely make the air cushioned vehicle more unstable.
Thursday 20th August
Purchase of new Rotax 232 2 Stroke engine
Morning spent laying down grid on one metre squares at Pothof Venue, total area space 15 x 15 metres. Two overhead surveillance cameras mounted above space (black/white) plus another fixed video 8 camera mounted directly facing a black backdrop. Roaming digital camera for various camera angles.
Approx 3pm first test run took place
Pilot: Ben Blakebrough: white overalls, flying hat and gravity registration markers
On a smooth surface craft sucessfully demonstrates the theory of control by shifting ones body weight across the centre of gravity
Approx 4pm second test run took place
Pilot: David Rogers: NO clothing except for boots and gravity registartion markers
This test developed the idea of "Homos Hoverous"
Approx 2 hrs of video footage collected
Friday 21st August
All day spent mounting new motor onto A.C.V
# Motor mount had to be modified, aluminium blocks welded underneath existing mount to support motor mounting points
# Control/Throttle column modified and now supported directly of the top of the mtor
# Engine was designed for horizontal drive. To enable for vertical drive position fuel tank had to be turned around, carburettor rotated 90 degrees and existing air filter replaced with motorcycle air filter which was running on the original VC Victor lawn mower engine.
ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS
Rotax 2-Stroke made in Austria
#bore x stroke 69.5mm x 61mm
#displacement 231cc
#performance 5.2hp/7.0hp @ 3000rpm
6.5hp/8.8hp @ 4500rpm
#torquemAx 16.6hp @ 3000rpm
#installation position vertical drive
#lubrication oil in fuel lubrication
#mixing ratio 1:50
#fuel tank capacity 4.8 litres
#weight 18kgs
Saturday 22nd August
All day spent running in the ROTAX engine
# encountered problems with governer, engine making noise under load. Conclusion was made that while governer was not connected it was still causing noise though hoping that this will not damage the motor in anyway
Sunday 23rd August
#Continued to run in motor. Head mounts were retightened after five hrs of running time.
#Stators on a.c.v. were adjusted at various pitchings, counter rotation was still present.
#Pitching on rotar blades was pulled back to approx 10-15 degrees
Monday 24th August
# New motor was trialed at posthof venue again
# Various video footage was collected
# Brainwaves signals were monitored on 3 different pilots
# Various pitch settings of counter-rotation stators were adjusted, heavier the pilot the less counter rotation
# The theory that the a.c.v. can be piloted without very minimal instructions if any at all.
# Work begun on mechanical lever cam of which can control one stator vein enabling more control of counter-rotation whilst in flight
Tuesday 25th August
# More video footage collected. Overhead camera mounted on craft collecting footage of a.c.v. in motion on grid floor surface.
#Completion of mechnical lever enabling for the adjustment of one stator vein whilst in flight.
Friday 5th September to Saturday 13th September
# A Round room measuring 5.6m diameter by 1.9 m heigh was constructed. This room was used to demonstrate the control of the A.C.V. as part of the "Times Up", Safe Harbours project.
#Essentially the room enabled members of the general public to experience the control theory applied to the A.C.V. Over a period of seven nights approximately 80 different persons from various backgrounds, weights and heights piloted the A.C.V. during this period. Conclusively the results of this public demonstration clearly indicate that the A.C.V can be controlled by anyone of average intelligence with little or no oral training.
CONCLUSION
The A.C.V. designed and built by Triclops International has proved sucessful in demonstrating aspects of flight control whereby the pilot simply shifts there weight over the centre of gravity to navigate the vehicle. Sucessfully we feel we have overcome complex mechanisims such as collective and cyclic pitch and computer aided gyroscopic devices to ensure the stability of the vehicle, to do this we utilised the most complex system of control; the human body and brain.Triclops International will in early 1999 apply the results of our participation in CTL98 to the development of a Hiller Flying Platform. Please stay tuned.
Points to note of Triclops International participation in CTL98:
# The A.C.V. does not work sucessfully on uneven surfaces, it is hopeful that in the not to distant future the A.C.V can be demonstrated on a large open and smooth surface such as a aircraft hanger. This performance/lecture is expected to take place in Australia sometime in early 1999.
#The documentation of the experiments will eventually take form in a video archive available for public release in December1998.
For more info write to:
Triclops International
PO Box 1045
Leichhardt
NSW, 2040
Australia
email: dc@dirtymouse.net
