Final Team Documentation

Our Slotbots strategy required two modules. Our Most Critical Module (MCM) was a cart that was driven around the table top. A pen and gate assembly allowed us to collect and secure balls on the table. Our second module was a chute that, when deployed, served as both a way to toggle the lever and score the balls carried by the cart. A small secondary ramp was placed in the slot and used as a dumping zone. The balls rolled down it, into the hollow chute, and finally down the scoring ramp.

This approach was chosen because it offered multiple scoring options. For example, if our opponents were able to toggle the slot before us, we could use the cart to carry balls to the opposite cone instead. We also wanted a creative way to attack the problem, which we believed this would accomplish.

The two modules are pictured below, and explained in more detail:

The Cart

As mentioned above, the cart was designed as our primary offensive option. Though our focus was to use it to deliver balls to the slot, it was equally capable of taking balls to our cone if the chute was beaten to the lever. Therefore, it was critical to any success we hoped to have in seeding and the competition.

The pen and gate assembly on the front utilized gears and linkages. The gate could be raised and lowered, allowing us to capture balls. The shape of the pen helped ensure that the balls could not escape as we were trying to collect more. The gate was bent at the bottom so that it pushed underneath the squash balls, and prevented them from getting stuck. The open bottom provided an extremely simple deposit method into either the horizontal slot chute or the cone.

The laser cutter, waterjet, mill, band saw, drill press, and metal bender were used in the manufacturing of this module.

The Chute

The chute was designed to act as a fast way to toggle the lever and open our side of the slot, and to accept and score balls from the table. A solid, stationary base was placed in position with velcro, ensuring it wouldn't move during game play. Two rails, purchased from McMaster, were attached to the inside of the vertical walls. Two sliders were attached to the aluminum chute. Slots on the walls allowed us to adjust the angle of the chute, and test for the optimal setup prior to the competition.

At the start of the match, the chute was kept in position by a short aluminum pin. When play began, a motor was used to pull the pin. Utilizing only gravity, the sliders then moved down the rails, allowing the chute to fall toward the lever. A two pound block was also secured inside the chute at the top to allow it to hit with more force.

A horizontal slide was placed into the slot. When the cart drove over the slot, balls rolled down it, into the hollow vertical chute, and finally into the scoring ramp.

A combination of the laser cutter, waterjet, mill, band saw, drill press, and metal bender were used in the manufacturing of this module.

Other Notes:

• The power supply was mounted directly to the cart to reduce wiring.
• A quick-disconnect was used to allow the car to detach from the chute once the pin was pulled. This allowed it to travel freely and eliminated the possibility of getting tangled up in extra wire.
• A complete parts list, including costs, can be found in the post below. We remained slightly below our $100 allotted outside budget.
• We were able to rank 4th in the seeding round, and advanced once in competition.