ARCA Aerospace Corporation ArcaBoard (production model)
ArcaBoard (production model)
ARCA Aerospace Corporation
Ramnicu Valcea, Romania
www.arcaspace.com/arcaboard
ARCA Aerospace Corporation was founded in 1999 in Ramnicu Valcea, Romania. The company is in the aerospace business having designed and manufactured reusable water-based and ecological propulsion orbital and suborbital space rockets and orbital vehicles, a stratospheric UAV and an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) hoverboard. The company services high tech industries, maritime and defense markets. The company officially announced the ArcaBoard to the public on December 24, 2015.
ArcaBoard one passenger eVTOL hoverboard
The ArcaBoard is a one passenger eVTOL hoverboard for recreational use. The pilot stands on top and in the middle of the hoverboard during flight. The hoverboard can fly over land, roads, railroad tracks or water. The hoverboard can travel in all directions and there is a built-in stabilization unit to keep the hoverboard in stable in any type of weather condition. The company states the hoverboard is a very safe platform to fly on. The rider can use their phone to control the hoverboard itself. For the most intense experience, the company recommends the rider turn off the stabilization system and the rider can steer the ArcaBoard with their own body.
The maximum speed of the hoverboard is 20 km/h (12.5 mph) and has a flight time of six minutes. The hoverboard has a maximum thrust of 200 kgf (430 lbs) and a maximum power of 272 hp. The installed power is 203,000 W, has a working voltage of 38 volts and has a maximum noise level of 92 dB. The maximum cruise altitude for the hoverboard is 30 cm (1 ft). The empty weight of the board is 82 kg (180 lbs), has a maximum payload weight of 110 kg (243 lb) and has a maximum takeoff weight of 192 kg (423 lb).
The hoverboard has 36 electric ducted fans (EDFs), has 36 electric motors and uses one LiPo battery pack for each electric ducted fan for its power source. By using 36 electric ducted fans, the company ensures that even in the case of multiple motor failures there are enough motors remaining to take over so you keep on riding. And by each fan having its own battery, if several batteries fail, you can keep flying. The aircraft is very safe because of its multiple redundant systems. The time it takes to recharge the hoverboard with a charger is six hours. The time it takes to recharge the batteries in a docking station is one hour.
The length of the hoverboard is 145 cm (57 in), the width is 76 cm (30 in) and the depth is 15 cm (6 in). The fuselage is made from aerospace grade composite materials. The weight of the composite fuselage structure alone is only 10 kg (22 lbs). The empty weight of the hoverboard with all electric fans, electric motors, battery packs and electronics is 82 kg (180 lbs). According to the company, the composite structure is a good thermal insulator and the forced cooling system allows the hoverboard's equipment to remain cool, even during intense usage. The hoverboard lands on the bottom of its fuselage.
Specifications:
- Aircraft type: eVTOL hoverboard
- Piloting: 1 pilot
- Maximum speed: 20 km/h (12.5 mph)
- Flight time: 6 minutes
- Cruise altitude: 30 cm (1 ft)
- Empty weight: 82 kg (180 lbs)
- Maximum payload weight: 110 kg (243 lb)
- Maximum takeoff weight: 192 kg (423 lb)
- Propellers: 36 electric ducted fans (EDF)
- Electric motors: 36 electric motors
- Power source: LiPo batteries
- Fuselage: Aerospace grade composite materials
- Length: 145 cm (57 in)
- Width: 76 cm (30 in)
- Depth: 15 cm (6 in)
- Landing gear: Lands on the bottom of the fuselage
- Safety features: Distributed Electric Propulsion (DEP), provides safety through redundancy for its passengers and/or cargo. DEP means having multiple propellers (or ducted fans) and motors on the aircraft so if one or more propellers (ducted fans) or motors fail, the other working propellers (or ducted fans) and motors can safely land the aircraft. There are also redundancies of critical components in the sub-systems of the aircraft.
Company Insights:
Resources:
- ARCA Space website
- ARCA Space Facebook
- ARCA Space YouTube Channel
- ARCA Space Instagram
- ARCA Space LinkedIn
- Arcaboard Wikipedia
- Video: The Making of ArcaBoard, ARCA SPACE, Dec. 23, 2015
- Video: ArcaBoard moves fast to delivery start on April 14th, 2016, ARCA SPACE, Feb. 9, 2016
- Video: ArcaBoard: Feel Like a Superhero, ARCA SPACE, Mar. 2, 2016
- Video: Dumitru Popescu about ARCA participation in Top Marques, Monaco, ARCA SPACE, Mar. 24, 2016
- Video: ArcaBoard first public presentation in Monaco, ARCA SPACE, Apr. 2016
- Article: Arcaboard Functional HoverBoard, This Is Why I'm Broke, date unknown
- Article: ArcaBoard: The first real hoverboard?, New Atlas, Dec. 24, 2015
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