On Thin Ice

Overview

Current Arctic transportation options are generally unreliable as they mainly rely on costly infrastructure or are susceptible to environmental conditions. The thrust cushion vehicle (TCV) solves these issues because of its ability to travel on different types of Arctic terrain while being fast and fuel-efficient. The TCV uses front-mounted fans to push air through the bottom and back of the vehicle, where a set of flaps controls the amounts of lift and thrust. To fully understand how a TCV works, I built a model which was created using a foam hull, custom fan blades and remote control electronics. Each part worked individually, but due to poor weight distribution and limited power, the vehicle never achieved consistent lift. Even though my model did not work, because of the benefits of using a TCV, the concept is ideal for arctic applications such as transporting goods, healthcare transport and search and rescue operations.

Awards (2)

• Bronze Medal
• Selected for CWSF 2026

Competition history

• CWSF 2026 Curiosity & Ingenuity

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