I and a couple of friends are trying to build a hovering robotic platform. It might include a gyro for stability in radio control mode and sonar+ accelerometer/ gyro +compass in autonomous mode. Robotic features might include a 3-DOF robotic arm or human-detection camera setup or temperature/ gas/ smoke sensors. 
We are using a square hull for symmetric pressure distribution. The lift motor is a 15000 RPM brushed DC motor with a 5in. 3-blade fan. It pulls 3 amps at 5 volts with an extra payload of about 800 grams. We are currently powering it with a PC SMPS. The pics below show un-inflated (TestPic-1) and inflated (TestPic-2 & TestPic-3) skirt.

We are currently working on the thrust setup. Will post pictures of further developments soon.

nice concept mate.

Thanks, Dharmik!

We've added a 2212 1400kv (with 3-blade prop) as the thrust motor and two 3V DC motors for differential steering. The DC motors are controlled using a 5A H-bridge which gets its signals from an Arduino Due (which decodes the signals from the receiver). The setup is now heavy but works fine.

Here are some pics:

 

Video please!

Thank you VC sir. All the inspiration came from you.
Will certainly upload videos soon.

Looks like the differential steering setup is inefficient (too much weight and complexity). Now the HoverBot has rudder steering.
The thrust motor was placed on deck to keep CG low but it reduced thrust. So it has been lifted up a few inches. We tested it in the kitchen and it works well. Will post a video soon (uploading it on youtube right now).

Here's a snap for now:

And here's the first test video. Will upload longer detailed videos soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKVUazOpXfU&feature=g-upl&context=G2a22b69AUAAAAAAAAAA

The small three blade prop isn't giving enough thrust so we're gonna try a 5*3 SF prop. Also, we're increasing the area of the rudders (controlled with a Futaba standard servo).

VC sir, I'm waiting for your valuable comments and suggestions for any modifications. 

We had to change the lift motor to brushless as the brushed setup was heavy and tedious to operate. The lift fan is still the same.
We're now using a 5*3 prop with the thrust motor and it's giving a much better speed.
Here's a few snaps, will upload vids in a bit.

And here's a test video recorded on our basketball ground. Friggin awesome! ENJOY!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDTjCtM9ALE&feature=g-upl&context=G2a22b69AUAAAAAAAAAA

And one without the canopy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9pno9PhFJY&feature=g-upl&context=G223933eAUAAAAAAACAA

I would like to heartily thank Sandy sir for rewinding the 2212. It's working great as the thrust motor. It used to vibrate a bit but I fixed that. Thanks sir! 

Any time thanks Swapnil.

Nice Project there. fantastic  Keep posted on progress.

"Awe-*^%$#@&-some" buddy!Now flip her over and teach us how to make that perfect skirt. I'm loving this baby.

Oh Man! She is $3xy and hell raising fast to say the least. I wish I could have built something like her.

So much to learn from you young guns!

Thank you so much VC sir. It means so much reading encouraging words from you. This is the high point of my day! 

The skirt design was simple considering the square hull. I'm attaching a side-view pic of the skirt corner. We got loads of detailed info from the PIG website (http://www.raymondclan.com/hover/hover.html). Really thankful to those guys and their great website!   

VC sir, Sandy sir, we were wondering if we could turn this baby into a WiG hovercraft (like the one below). That would be as cool as attaching a robotic arm or making it fully autonomous.
The total weight with battery is 1070 grams. We could increase the thrust by using a bigger or ducted prop.
Can this be achieved? Has it been done on an rc model anywhere? (I remember someone on RCU tried, but didn't succeed)

 

And here's how it glides on tar-roads. The bump-jump is the coolest crap we've done so far! Gonna test it on water soon!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EemvEBkybyw&feature=g-upl&context=G2a22b69AUAAAAAAAAAA

Very, very innovative

Thank you Sanjay!

Here's the final power setup:

Lift     : BLDC 2822 1200 kv + 3-blade 4.5*4.5 + 30A DYS ESC
Thrust : BLDC 2212 1400 kv + 2-blade 5*3 SF  + 30A DYS ESC
Batt    : Lipo 3S 2200mAh 25C
TxRx   : Futaba T7CHP + FP-R127DF (7ch) (Thank you so much RCI )

Yeaaah! It works great in water as well! Just tested it in a 5'x3' tank. (sorry, no pics)
Gonna test it in a pool next! And we're not worried about clearing the hump (see vid in #17, it's awesome!)