Researchers' ion-propelled micro hovercraft flies with 10x efficiency boost

Researchers (Nelson et al.) have demonstrated the first ion-propelled micro hovercraft, a palm-sized vehicle that uses electroaerodynamic (EAD) thrust—generated by ionizing air between electrodes—to levitate at low altitudes. EAD is attractive for micro air vehicles because it is silent and solid-state, but its efficiency has historically been too poor for practical flight. The team found that operating close to a ground plane dramatically increases thrust density and efficiency, so they systematically tested different passive skirt geometries and configurations to optimize performance.

Using their measured data, they built a prototype that weighs about 1.6 grams and can carry an additional ~1.5 grams of payload, a 10x improvement in payload-to-thrust efficiency over similarly sized EAD robots. The hovercraft achieves 16 mN/W of thrust efficiency, withstands dozens of takeoffs and landings, passively rejects mechanical disturbances, and emits no audible noise. It currently runs on external power via a tether, so it is not yet autonomous, but this proof-of-concept points toward a new class of silent, low-altitude micro robots for sensing, inspection, or exploration.