Phase 1 Design Project

 

“HOLE IN ONE”

 

PROBLEM MOTIVATION

 

A manufacturer wishes to transport a material from one stage in a manufacturing process to another as quickly as possible.  The material must be acquired from a specified initial position, transported along a specified path, and be deposited in the specified final position.

 

PROBLEM SPECIFICATION

 

Design teams in the EGR 3380 class will address the above engineering problem by designing, constructing, and testing a prototype device that performs the desired functions according to the specifications detailed below.

 

*   The material to be transported will be one standard size and weight golf ball.

*   The initial position of the ball shall be on a tee, mounted on a wooden platform as shown in the attached figure. 

*   The wooden platform will also have a bored hole, large enough to accommodate the ball.   The hole shall be the final position of the ball after transport.

*   The platform may be initially positioned by the design team anywhere on the top of a table in room 109 of the Rogers Building.

*   The design team’s prototype device shall transport the ball from the tee to the hole in as short a time as possible.

*   During transport, the ball must make a complete circuit of the tabletop cross-section.  That is, the ball must be transported off one side of the table, pass underneath the table, and be brought back up on the opposite side of the table before being placed in the hole. 

*   The prototype device, when assembled and ready to operate, must not touch anything except the tabletop and the sides of the platform.  During operation, the device may touch only the tabletop, the ball, and the platform.  After transport is complete, the device may touch only the tabletop and the sides of the platform. 

*   The prototype device may not in anyway permanently mark or disfigure the platform, the ball, or the tabletop.

*   The operation of the prototype device shall be initiated via one momentary mechanical switching action.  The energy input from the hand during this switching action shall not directly impart energy to the transport of the ball.  After the initial switching action has been performed, the operation of the device shall be autonomous. 

*   The speed of operation of the device will be measured with a stopwatch.  The stopwatch will be started on the switching action that initiates device operation.  The stopwatch will be stopped when the ball is inside the cup and will clearly remain so, as determined at the discretion of the timer.