Week 07 — Oct 19-25, 2025

Overview

The team began a deep dive in the design and considerations for different launching mechanisms to be prototyped. After successfully demonstrating the flywheel design, the pinball and linear actuator mechanisms were discussed and ME CAD and EE schematics were started to be developed.

Individual Updates

Austin

• Started to adapt stepper and serveo motor controller code to specific apllications
  • Looked into migrating code to different microcontroller and SBC platforms

Grace

• Designed proof-of-concept (POC) prototype 'pinball' launcher mechanism, with decoupled 'cradle' and 'flipper' features
• Conducted preliminary motor sizing calculations to validate reusing existing motors for POC 'pinball' launcher
• Sourced various hardware and components for POC 'pinball' launcher

Kevin

• Designed proof of concept prototype for linear actuator launcher mechanism
• Sourced and ordered components and started building prototype
• Conducted preliminary calculations

Vincent

• Compared several motor options for different launching mechanisms
  • Provide initial motor driver recommendations for servos and BLDCs
  • Found initial motors and drivers for each topology
• Discussed design considerations of carriage for linear and pinball launching mechanisms