Machine Design

Columbia’s “Machine Design” course challenges students to develop a quick, highly precise arm that moves to and pushes illuminated buttons in a random order, on a platform referred to as the “playing field.” Students are given primary DC motor, servo, aluminum stock material, and an Arduino to make it work.

My responsibilites (on a team of three) included kinematic planning, creation of a detailed 3D model, manufacturing of linkage components, wire routing, motor position sensor implementation, signal processing, and transmission design.

Teams were scored according to three criteria: (1) Raw speed score (maximum correct buttons pressed in one minute), (2) Smallest volume, and (3) Craftsmanship. My team scored first in these three categories.