I co-designed this robot with classmate Abby Carey, but each of us built our own robot for competition. Both machines placed in the top 10% of 160 robots. Two remote-controlled motors powered the machine. The first triggered four constant-force springs (not modeled) to pull the arm down and forward over row of balls. This motion actuated the top catcher to flip down over the balls and capture them behind the one-way gate at the front. Once the balls were covered, the arm (with the springs now detached) was winched and pulled back up the ramp, allowing the balls to fall through the hole and roll down the table into the scoring bins. The machine was designed to be assembled for use on either side of the table.
Year: 2006
Designed For: MIT's Design and Manufacturing I (2.007)
Designed with: Abby Carey