Unreal tournament Manta

[twiglet]

For those of you who aren't horribly addicted to the gaming world this...

http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/851/ut2007manta1lm4.jpg

Is a manta which behaves like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql1VH28Bc8c


Technically its a hovercraft in that it foats on a cushion of air. Now I realise that I am looking at a vehicle from a computer game and therefore it won't exactly translate to the real world perfectly but none the less I do think it is very cool and I was wondering if any of you had any good ideas as to how to make an RC version of this.
I would imagine there will be a lot of very sensitive gyros involved and that it will probably need to be closer to a helicopter in design especially when it comes to making it manouverable.

Any other sugestions as to how to make it work (or at least look like its working) would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Twiglet

[metroidrc]

I think its more of a VTOL, but looks really cool!

[jakestg]

kewl

[Xmodgeek]

Yep it "looks" more like a VTOL but behaves more like a hovercraft (except it's a bit high of the ground). I would thingk trying to make it work like a VTOL wouldn't work, the fans are too small and CG looks to be too far back. On the other hand if you were to make 2 hover craft pads (guess that's what you'd call them) for each prop and the skirt and all it could work. Tho not a agile as the one in U3 and would have a tindance to drift from side to side. but you could control it. And as far as that idea you woldn't need any gyros or heli stuff, maybe 2 larger motors, controllers, props, for the lift fans and a pusher prop ruder, motor controller to move and stear it.

Do you have an R/C stuff like a radio at least?

[twiglet]

I think I might have found a toy to canibalise for parts.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a4f0/

[Xmodgeek]

Well that not really a hovercraft... But as far as using the parts from it I can't really say. I've never seen one personally but don't think it could lift much at all, so making it look like a manta would be difficult. Only 10mins of flight time and would require gyros and other electronics to keep it in the air. The electronics in that toy probably couldn't handle any thing other then what it was made for. But the fans/motors might be nice.

[mnfiero]

I think I might have found a toy to canibalise for parts.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a4f0/

It's in the works...

I have the CyberSurfer. Not really much control and I managed to break the Surfer off at the waist. Nothing a little glue can't fix, but it’s a good excuse to "reconfigure" the thing.

I'm going with a three fan configuration, but the Unreal design could be adjusted for a tri-fan config. I was thinking more of a CC Orca look. I think it may have a lower CG. Making it easier to control, we will see.

I really do like the look of the Unreal craft. The "elevators flaps" for forward flight are an interesting idea. I'm not sure how functional they would be behind the fans, but they look cool.

The CyberSurfer will need to be totally retrofitted to even come close to having enough power to get off the ground with anymore weight then it came with. New electronics, radio, motors and batteries.

I had to order some extra gyros and they should be here any day. As soon as they get here, I'll be giving it a go.

I'll post any update in the VTOL forum.

[mnfiero]

The gyros have arrived and the Cyber Surfer did not give up his hover board without a fight.