3 ms·
Not a lot moreso than you'd see in a hovercraft, which are currently used in some jurisdictions (including locally where I live) for the kind of rescue work thi
by tjradcliffe 12y ago
Not a lot moreso than you'd see in a hovercraft, which are currently used in some jurisdictions (including locally where I live) for the kind of rescue work this technology is initially aimed at.
It's actually a pretty clever example of disruptive tech: it does almost everything a hovercraft does but is far closer to conventional tech and will likely be cheaper and lower maintenance.
- Someone1234 12y agoHovercraft don't have too many exposed moving parts. Just the two (or one) main rotors which also generate lift in most designs. One of the reasons cited for hovercraft disappearing from many applications is the increased maintenance costs relative to normal ferries. Externally this thing has far more mechanical joints than a hovercraft. The skirt on a hovercraft is just rubber-like material bolted together, there are no moving parts in there, it just inflates (and, yes, salt does eat away at it badly). Salt can and does get brought down into the hovercraft but it shouldn't get brought into the engine directly.
- lotsofmangos 12y agoYour average roll on ferry has loads of exposed moving mechanical joints. Just look at the loading ramps. http://s3.freefoto.com/images/2026/49/2026_49_11_web.jpg http://s3.freefoto.com/images/2026/49/2026_49_11_web.jpg