In this photo, both our 12V battery and our servo that will rotate to an angle we are given. The tongue depressor is attached to show the angle of which the servo will rotate. The battery is also shown to be wired to our fuse box.

 Pictured here is our kill switch. As you can see, the kill switch is attached to our frame with the use of screws. Also, the blue light on the kill switch is lit up. The blue light being powered on shows that it has power running through it.

 Both our fuse box and our 5V regulator are pictured above. The fuse box allows for us to distribute power to multiple different components. The 5V regulator is used to convert the 12V from our battery to 5V. This is helpful so that anything that requires 5V instead of 12V will have voltage, but not too much voltage.

 Above is our sonar sensor. This component will allow us to detect a distance greater than 30 cm and also less than 30 cm.

 This picture is of two thermistors. The one on the right is an exposed thermistor, and the one on the left is a shielded thermistor. We will use the shielded thermistor to calculate the surrounding environmental temperature, and we will use the exposed thermistor in order to find the cooling effect of the wind so that we can calculate the wind speed.

 On the left, is our bump sensor. It is connected to a motor that will continue to run until the bump sensor is triggered.

 This is our robot with most of the parts for sprint 2 attached. As you can see our frame has been built as it supports the multiple other components already connected to it.

Team Multi-Taskers

    Members: Adam Cass, Fernando Vazquez, Ahmed Hadi, Henry Albright, Jack Brandt, James Chard, Bennett Cook

General Info: Our team has come up with several potential designs for our ping-pong-ball launcher, this blog will show you two of those ideas. We have held the thought of using a slingshot device with rubber bands constant throughout the whole process, so both of our ideas below include that sort of system. The main differences are the trigger mechanisms and the angle/power changers for the varying distances.

Brainstorming:

The very beginning of our thought process. This picture is a direct representation of how desperately we were scrambling for ideas and how many different models we were deciding between.

Final Model Illustration:

This picture illustrates both the Trigger System and Launch System in our final design. The Trigger System uses a rotating circle piece which is used to hold back the nest and launch ball. The circle piece is held in place by a piece of plywood butting up against the bottom of the circle, which is pushed out of the way when the trigger ball lands on the piece of wood directly behind. The Launch System shows the direction the ball will be flying and how the Trigger System will tie into the whole project.

Final Model Dimensions:

This picture shows the vertical and horizontal views of our project, as well as each major component by itself. This image also includes which pieces we are going to 3D print and a basic representation of the pieces which rotate.

Vertical view of Rotating Part:

This image is a vertical view of our rotating part that will provide the basis for our trigger mechanism. The hook-like cutout in the upper-left part of the circle is where the string will attach. This string will be the part that is holding back both the stretched rubber bands and the ping pong ball. In the bottom-right part of circle is a rectangular cutout. This is where the lever part of our trigger system will attach. The lever will be the part that moves out of the way allowing the entire part to rotate and release the string; thus shooting the ping pong ball.

Isometric view of Rotating Part:

This image provides an isometric view for our rotating part. This view allows the thickness of the part to be seen, and provide a clearer understanding of how and where both the string and the lever will attach to the part.

Isometric view of Base Stopper Support:

This part assists the Base Stopper is not shifting during use. This part will be 3d printed due to its unique dimensions.

Isometric view of Base Stopper:

The Base Stopper will make sure that the base does not shift when we change the angles to shoot the ping pong ball different distances. Once again this part will be 3d printed due to its unique dimensions.

Design 1, Whole View:

    This is a design created by Hadi. This is one of our discussed ideas and is quite functional. It was created mostly with allowed materials, however some are not. We will continue to adapt it until it is fully functional as well as being permitted in the competition.

Design 1, Down the Ball Shoot:

    This view is looking down through the ball shoot, which is used to guide the trigger ball safely to the trigger. As you can see, the trigger isn't permitted, however we are changing that to be legal.

Design 1, Adjustable Height:

This image shows one of our first concepts of an adjustable height and angle with which we launch the ball. There are 3 different slots for the 8’, 12’, and 16’ targets, all while keeping the same elasticity in the rubberbands.

Design 1, Slingshot:

    A concept that we are sticking with is the use of the rubber bands as a propellant, like a slingshot. The elongated cuts in the cardboard are for the flex of the wood as well as for when the angle of the box changes, the posts do not. Therefore, there must be some leeway.

Design 1, Stretched Rubber Bands:

    This image shows the rubber band pulled back onto the stopping mechanism. The stopping mechanism moves when the trigger ball drops down the ball shoot(right side of image) which releases the rubber band and ball, which is held between the band.