EchoRCHoverCraft2017
Introduction/Definition/etc
Since Drones were not allowed within the
region, and for 20-30 miles away, plus
generally not good in water, then snow,
maybe the Echo RC HoverCraft
would fit the bill, but turns out it's
probably not really even functional.
Body
Bought one, then got another for
spare parts, something I tend to do,
after finding toys have shorter support
levels than most other things, if any
support is available...
Searching online, after purchase,
found a video that says about that,
it's not really working. Found no recalls,
and the labeling/instructions, says you
can't return it to the store.
Hovercraft have always been rather
risky, even in development.
Later, someone was likely killed
with one, according to some
internet searches. Likely
life size trying something
stupid with a powerful engine...
So theory is a fan, or many fans
lift it up off the surface, and baffles,
keep it directed towards keeping it up,
then two props, in this case, unlike a
swamp boat (one fan and directs the air
right and left like fins?), with no lifting force,
besides forward motion, waves, etc,
move it right and left...
In the RC (radio or remote controlled)
toy version, the controller, stick, is easier,
than say a drone, where right and left
are actually in more than just two
dimensions, depending upon how it is
designed/ configured...
Say a drone is left joystick up and down,
really lift for higher prop speed over all,
and right and left is turn right and left...
But the whole other joystick, is for the
other props, a quad has 4 propellers,
usually brushless motors, in this case..
The HoverCraft, seem underpowered,
Opening the box, lots of tape and stuff
to keep mittengrabben really kiddengrabben,
to be more correct? Not a German speaker,
so young hands, grabbing , the tech joike,
or just clueless, non technical, similar to
Robot packaging, securely in the plastic,
and cardboard...
Charging is required, and got me one
rainy day, it takes 8 hours or so for the
first charge, maybe 4 for later?
And doesn't list LiPo or battery
technology, so likely NiCad/NiMH,
recycling at least should say,
if not the FCC number..
Frequency, since wireless would
have had to have been tested
for the sales in the USA???
Two frequency options exist,
on the packaging, so if you have the
same one, you might be overflowing the
spectrum, and cannot race against each
other, not sure, not tried both yet...
Screws, two Phillips sizes, one much
smaller, so opening the back of the
RC controller/ joysticks to install the
included 9V, and another size for
installing the battery pack,
once charged up...
Maybe some lag time, to get the fans
off the ground, baffles (thin innertube like
rubber, wondering about cleanliness over time?),
and all sorts of precautions, even limiting
water use, which really isn't what the other
marketing/ packaging says,
"Land And Water Speedster"
but in red "Control on Land, Water & Snow",
I haven't taken it apart, but probably don't
play with it in the bathtub like a rubber
ducky... Not a lot of voltage, but the battery
pack while sealed maybe a little in water resistant,
bushing/ around the battery pack, not sure you
can really dunk it, take a large wave, etc.
It's not a jet ski, nor a mariner drone...
Hacks
Likely changing from NiCad/NiMH
to LiPo/Lithium would reduce the battery
weight, and upgrading the fans to better
drone like fans, would both reduce the weight
and give more power, possibly up to the
"High Speed" marketing on the box...
Drone motors are in KV, as previously
mentioned, in
DronesChart2015
and maybe elsewhere, check again to be sure...
So lighter may be better, check battery
technology, heat sensitivity, and water
problems...
Like boats there seems to be foam/
floatation involved, but I've not opened
it up yet, for a disassembly, nor really
even run it yet, just from video online,
seeming to agree...
Product Data
UPC
0 26753 39859 1
39859
Near a QR Code, but don't want to give
out locations, which most readers send
too, iirc..
There is a stamped number on the box
maybe like WowWee V2 RoboSapiens,
in the USA ones, they did something
in manufacturing substituting cheaper parts,
the mad rush for holiday deadline,
and nobody knew/ bothered random
quality assurance testing?
Buyer beware, indeed...
No Joy, Yet, but some RC people
try destroying stuff, as Demo can mean
demonstrate, and demolish,
both start with the root demo...
Links
Echo-Technologies.com
http://www.echo-technologies.com/products.php?id=rchovercraft
YouTube
search for it
Probably sent it to myself,
not sure if someone had a take
down notice on it, it was a dad/
uncle for someone else,
assumed reliable, and not
conflict of interest(s)...
Uncle Gus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3hWul4M1Q4
Others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU27Gl94sec
Build your own Videos
Found some online, find one that works for you/me..?
Conclusion
Summary of experience or similar
No Joy, yet, might need a kiddie pool,
like suggested for RobotFest2017
water testing, and cooling off.
But says on land too, wonder if
it will get off the ground move forward,
What about on carpet?
Tile?
Cement?
But most stuff is hackable, even if
you don't know what you are doing...
/Joke...
Water and electricity don't mix well,
as anyone who has tinkered, fairly
quickly finds out, one way or another...
Capacitors blow like a firecracker/
ammunition, so careful learning those
mistakes, wear ear protection, etc...
Not that that is this, nor is filling tires
in high pressure, bicycles quiet
100+ PSI (Pounds per or / Square Inch)
make a racket, not sure decibels,
I'll leave that to the physics majors
and controlled experiments elsewhere.,.
July 4th makes a lot of noise anyways,
maybe New Years Eve, and other times,
or remote places, with warning to others
within earshot...
If you do, do it safely, all sorts of controls,
shorting, fire, hitting other stuff, ear protection,
safety glasses, drying out before plugging in,
safety poles, etc...
Not sinking it, shallow, not wavy stuff, etc...
Parental Advisory
Ages 8+, but not just age, but
intellectual disabilities, and
mostly obvious supervision...
As labeled 27 MHz checked/ marked,
the other is 49 MHz...
Discussion
A place for feedback on the page presented
How do you know if something you buy will work?
Do the research ahead of time?
Is that why your allowance is in a piggy bank?
(used to be passbook saving, and parent/ other
had to get you to the store, to actually make
a purchase...) and a reason to check with others first?
Or live dangerously and learn the hard way,
have some parts, probably more expensive
than was necessary, maybe to build something else?
How much of it is reusable?
Do some research on HoverCraft,
a neat idea, around England and other places,
marshy etc, found it useful, but always
sort of an albatross, afaict...
Maybe DoDoBird?
Like the amphibious Duck, a DC Tourist
personnel and boat, trying to do both,
is probably a bad compromise, either do
land, and/or seas, and/or air...
But Marines and others can't always choose,
and like ducks in and out of many varieties...
Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
For certain use cases, probably nothing
else will do, and the physics and possibilities,
if it worked out, would have been nice...
Kind of like everyone has a personal
jet pack, back in the early space age/
flying sci fi days...
License
Creative Commons Share and Share Alike,
Non Commercial, Non Derivative,
for the whole site's contents
unless otherwise explicitly stated
Page History
20170525 Jerry
- Jerry created this page to log an RC Toy,
- likely a dud, but will see, if/when it works,
- or modify/hack it to make it work?...
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