Inspired by electromagnetic propulsion techniques found in Hyperloop, mag-lev trains and other novel ground transportation systems I designed a controllable electromagnetic hovercraft that is able to levitate above nonferrous conductive materials such as aluminum by taking advantage of Lenz’s law. As a thruster made of permanent magnets arranged in a Halbach array spins above the aluminum sheet, eddy currents with an opposing magnetic field are induced in the sheet creating a repulsive force. Four independent electromagnetic thrusters actuated by four servomotors can be arranged in a quadcopter formation to allow for 3-axis control of the hovercraft. Control of the hovercraft is implemented using a PID controller based on accelerometer and gyroscope sensor data. The hovercraft frame is entirely 3D-printed and went through several iterations aimed at maximizing stiffness and reducing motor vibrations. The hovercraft is powered by a 4-cell 1800 mAh lithium polymer battery which yields a flight time of 4 minutes. A video of the hovercraft in operation is presented below.
