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Whaley the Robot

May / 2024 / Quadcopter

Whaley the Robot

too many degrees of freedom

A robot built for the Robotics Design Class at MIT featuring various mechanism to accomplish specific tasks on a unique game board.

The process of designing, builing, redesigning, rebuilding Whaley taught the importance of carefully considering engineering solutions. The robot, with its complex design and numerous degrees of freedom (DOFs), did not perform optimally. However, the experience provided valuable lessons in mechanisms and manufacturing techniques. Proficiency with the mill and lathe was achieved, along with improved speed and efficiency in prototyping. Insights were gained into constraints and fastening techniques, highlighting the need to effectively constrain components to prevent issues such as gear slippage. This project emphasized the importance of exploring various problem-solving approache and applying theoretical mechanics to real-world challenges by analyzing requirements and executing precise solutions.

Features (top to bottom):

  • Bevel Gear Wheel Memory Holder Spinner: Most Critical Module that spins out the tubes on the game board
  • Two way rack and pinion that extends and compresses horizontally in both directions
  • Scissor Lift that extends and compresses vertically
  • Modular Chassis that allows for swapping/adding components
  • Received the Ma-Sha Prize in the MIT 2.007 Annual Robot Competition, a prize for the most beautiful, elegant, and stunning robots.

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