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Ballistics Device

Overview

The Ballistics Device project was the first major project completed in the PLTW program. The goal was to shoot a ping pong ball as far as possible out of a bespoke contraption. It connected with the learning of the kinematics formulas for an object traveling through the air.

Key Ideas

Statistics

  • Mean

  • Median

  • Standard Deviation

  • Range

Kinematics

  • Initial Velocity

  • X-Displacement

  • Firing Angle

Criteria

  •  Reusable for at least ten times

  • Able to change launch angle

  • Simple

  • Accuracy 

  • Power

Constraints

  • Must fit inside 1'x1'x1' cube

  • Non combustible power source

  • Launches from an equal elevation to landing point

  • Uses commonly found household items

  • Able to be construct in a week

Balistic Device.jpg

Final Design

The design that was constructed was a spring powered device. It relied on the user pulling back a handle to compress a spring. The handle was then released uncompressing the spring which pushed the ping pong ball in its way. The launcher sat on a base that can be moved along a rail forwards and backwards 6". It could also rotate in its fixture approximately 45 degrees.

Reflection and Future Improvements

It was thought that  it would be able to launch the ping pong ball a lot farther than it was able to. This was most likely due to the less than ideal angle mobility caused by size constraints. Also, due to the spring plunger not being exactly centered, a lot of power is lost to friction against the side of the barrel when the handle is released.

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If improvements were made to the design, the team would start by expanding the stand’s width to give the barrel more breathing room. This would make the barrel slide easier when changing angles. The team would also add weights to the base to make sure that when pulling back, it stayed stationary.

Dynamic Maze

Overview

Control Systems are systems that can change outputs based off the inputs received. This idea is implemented in many fields but the focus was on coding control systems using the programming software VexV r(due to covid-19 it was all virtual). The objective is to get from start to finish in an environment that changes every attempt.

Criteria

  • Has to complete the maze

  • Must stop at the end

  • Uses the directional sensors

Constraints

  • Can not take longer than 5 minutes

  • Must drive with a purpose, not random

Final Design

The program works by using the age old strategy of always turning left in a maze. The robot checks to its left and if there is not a wall, it goes left one block. Then, it does the same thing again. By constantly turning left, the robot is able to cover the entire maze as fast as possible for a random maze choice.

Reflection and Future Improvements

The program for the dynamic maze works as intended, however there are some turns that seem unnecessary. If more time could have been spent on the design it may have become more effect through better algorithms. The program still worked fine and if it were to be done again, not much would be changed because the general idea was good.

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