The Ultimate Destroyer
An autonomous competition robot designed for the ME 2110 “Scooby-Doo” challenge. Our final strategy prioritized reliable scoring through a stationary base + telescopic deployment, a torque-amplified figurine delivery arm, and a timed sequence controlled by Arduino.
Project Overview
The competition objectives included placing a figurine into the “Mystery Machine,” displacing ghosts from the home zone, and interacting with snacks on the field. After early sprint testing, we focused on consistency and repeatability over complexity.
The final design used a stationary base with telescopic sliders to reach the field while maintaining stability, paired with a motor-driven angled-arm subsystem to place the figurine into the sunroof.
- Consistent scoring and repeatable deployment
- Stable base + controlled reach to the field
- Reliable torque to lift the arm every time
- Clear, timed sequence (start → deploy → place → retract → stop)
System Architecture
- Figurine delivery subsystem: DC motor + angled arms + cup holder
- Ghost displacement subsystem: spring/tension-based arms to sweep/knock
- Telescopic slider deployment: extend outward from a stationary base
- Control: Arduino-driven sequencing with timed delays
- Switched to a motor-driven lift approach to avoid jerky motion from an actuator
- Added gearing (16T → 32T) to boost torque for consistent arm lift
- Inserted a deployment delay before the lift to allow full slider extension
- Used a stopper/limit approach to control final arm position
Iteration & Testing
Sprint testing was the main driver of design changes: Sprint 1 exposed a control issue that prevented task execution. Sprint 2 used a more stationary approach to isolate uncertainty in movement and focus on the delivery mechanism. Final revisions emphasized predictable deployment and repeatable scoring under competition conditions.
The final sequencing logic: detect start condition → release deployment → wait for full extension → run lift motor to place the figurine → hold position long enough to accommodate field timing → retract → stop.
- Wrote and edited major sections (abstract, conceptual design, alternatives)
- Developed and communicated design reasoning behind chosen architecture
- Supported iteration decisions through sprint testing takeaways
Results
- Advanced through multiple elimination rounds
- Scored in each round participated
- Best single-round score: 8 points
- Design emphasis: consistency and controlled retraction to avoid interference
- Reliability wins competitions more than “cool” mechanisms
- Timing and sequencing are as important as mechanical design
- Torque margin + end-stop control prevents cascade failures
- Rapid iteration requires tight feedback loops and simple tests
Gallery
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