Autonomous Hovercraft — ENGR 290

Overview

ENGR 290 is the first introduction to robotics for engineering students at Concordia — microcontrollers, electronics, programming, and mechanical design all in one team project. Build an autonomous hovercraft. Navigate a course. Don't crash.

This was the same term as Robowars 2024, so I came in with a head start from building Black Copy. I led a team of six, handling electronics and mechanical design while my teammate focused on software.

Result

4th place — missed the podium due to design flaws (the hovercraft was a bit too large). But something better happened.

The Shelf Story

One of the competition coordinators liked my hovercraft design so much that he took it and put it on his office shelf. Not a prize — just genuine appreciation for the craft.

Why? Because I obsessed over the build quality:

• Fully 3D printed chassis
• Single-layer-thick prints to minimize weight (hovercrafts need to be light)
• Multiple prototype iterations
• All black (because black looks professional)
• Clean cable management and mounting

These aren't my words — multiple people called it the best-looking hovercraft in the competition.

Technical Details

Navigation Logic

Simple but effective: ultrasonic sensors check front, left, and right. Whichever direction has the most clearance, that's where we go. No fancy algorithms — just reactive wall avoidance.

Hardware

• Sensors: Ultrasonic for distance, IMU for orientation
• Controller: Arduino
• Propulsion: DC motors for thrust and steering

My Role

• Complete mechanical design and CAD
• 3D printing with weight optimization
• Electronics integration and wiring
• Team coordination and Git workflow setup

What I Learned

This project taught me that execution quality matters as much as performance. We didn't win, but I built something I was proud to put my name on — and apparently good enough to earn a spot on someone's shelf.