Our strategy is to make a fast machine that first collects balls from the front edge of the table and then focuses on scoring balls from the perches of the tower. We are focusing on heavier balls due to the significant difference in mass between the ping pong balls (2.5g) and the squash and sand-filled squash balls (24g and 55g, respectively). Our concept has a non-motorized tray on the front of the machine that pushes the balls around the table. The tray has walls on the front and sides to prevent the balls from escaping. Additionally, there is an arm on top of the machine that is approximately 18” tall and has an L-shaped component attached to a torsion spring that is originally at 90˚ (due to initial size constraints). There is a rubber band attached to the wheel that pulls out a pin when the machine starts to move, making the spring expand to 180˚ and allowing us to reach both levels of the perches and knock off the balls. This machine would have two wheels at the front of the body for powering and steering, and one ball caster functioning as a wheel in the rear.
Pictures and sketches of the model are below:
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| This is the final machine sketch, with the arm at full extension |
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| This is our physical sketch model with the arm at the original positioning. Note: the front tray design changed. |
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