Decavitator
Encyclopedia
The Decavitator is a human-powered hydrofoil
that was built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
. It holds the human-powered speed record on water. The vehicle currently is displayed hanging in the entry lobby of the Museum of Science, Boston
.
On 27 October 1991, Mark Drela set the world-record speed with the Decavitator of 18.5 knots (9.53 meters/second) over a 100 meter race course on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1993 the Decavitator team was awarded the DuPont prize for the team with the fastest speed on record as of 31 December 1992.
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
that was built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
. It holds the human-powered speed record on water. The vehicle currently is displayed hanging in the entry lobby of the Museum of Science, Boston
Museum of Science, Boston
The Museum of Science is a Boston, Massachusetts landmark, located in Science Park, a plot of land spanning the Charles River. Along with over 500 interactive exhibits, the Museum features a number of live presentations throughout the building every day, along with shows at the Charles Hayden...
.
On 27 October 1991, Mark Drela set the world-record speed with the Decavitator of 18.5 knots (9.53 meters/second) over a 100 meter race course on the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. In the spring of 1993 the Decavitator team was awarded the DuPont prize for the team with the fastest speed on record as of 31 December 1992.
See also
- Human-powered hydrofoilHuman-powered hydrofoilthumb|Starting an AquaSkipper on the river [[Spree]] in [[Berlin]]A human-powered hydrofoil is a small hydrofoil watercraft propelled entirely by the muscle power of its operator. Human-powered hydrofoils may be driven by pedals, as in a hydrocycle, by paddles, as in a Flyak, or by bouncing, as in...
- Human-powered watercraftHuman-powered watercraftHuman-powered watercraft are watercraft propelled by human power. The three main methods of collecting human power are directly from the hands or feet, through the hands with oars, paddles, or poles or through the feet with pedals and a crank or treadle...
- HydrocycleHydrocycleA hydrocycle is bicycle-like watercraft. Power is collected from the rider via a crank with pedals, as on a bicycle, and delivered to the water or the air via a propeller. Seating may be upright or recumbent, and multiple riders may be accommodated in tandem or side-by-side...
- PedaloPedaloA paddle boat or "pedalo" is a form of waterborne transport, primarily for recreational use, powered through the use of pedals....