Embedded Files
TotalAssem_2_18_version.mp4Ball launching simulation
The final design of the baseball fielding machine is divided into four major systems:
Receiving System
Feeding and Loading System
Launching and Aiming System
Remote Control System
Since these systems are all connected in some ways, several components, such as the loading arm, are vital parts of more than one system.
Receiving System
The receiving system consists of the net and hopper. The net has a strike zone indication showing the size constraint of the machine and a place for the player to aim the ball for pitching practice. There is a net funnel leading into the hopper where the received ball is directed to the feeding and loading system.
Capabilities:
Receive thrown ball and funnel it into the feeder tube
Stable enough to withstand impact of thrown balls
Feeding and Loading System
The feeder system consists of the feeder tube, ball platforms, the loading arm, and the servo motors that control the ball platforms. The ball platforms are controlled by a high torque (25kg*cm) servo motor that will stop the incoming balls before moving them one by one into the loading arm. The loading arm will have another ball platform that will hold the ball in place before it is released into the launching and aiming system.
Capabilities:
Relay the balls one by one at a desired pace of the user
Feed balls continuously without jamming
The specific diagrams showing the roles of the servo motors and ball platforms are shown in the CAD below:
Launching and Aiming System
This system is perhaps the most complex system of the entire machine. The launching and aiming system consists of various components:
The loading/aiming arm holding the ball in place while aiming up/down
90 V DC motor with flywheel capable of launching the ball up to 70 mph
Motor base and legs to support and hold the entire subassembly
Turning mechanism with miter gears turning mechanism that will rotate the entire subassembly left/right
Capabilities:
Aim up/right/left/right
Launch balls accurately at speeds up to 70 mph
Diagram of the base swivel turning mechanism
Remote Control System
The remote control system is vital for the scope of the entire project. This system will make use of Arduino microcontrollers (Arduino Nano and Mega), radio frequency module, potentiometer, switches, analog joystick, battery supply, and a LCD screen to display the controls. The overall mechanism of the remote control utilizes transceivers to communicate between the remote and the set electrical components and motors on the machine. The remote control utilizes SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) which is able to communicate with several sensors at once with instantaneous exchange of information between the sensors and remote.
Capabilities:
Able to control launch trajectory and speed
Able to control the feed rate of the ball
Able to stop the machine in cases of emergencies
Pins:
Voltage: 5V
Ground
Digital Pin 13: Serial Clock Frequency (Output)
Digital Pin 12: Master In Slave Out (Input)
Digital Pin 11: Master Out Slave In (Output)
Digital Pin 4: Chip Select (Output)
Digital Pin 3: Interrupt
Digital Pin 2: Reset
Machine schematic
Performance and Results
Groundball.MOVGroundball trial 1
Groundballcatch.MOVGroundball trial 2
IMG_0557.movMachine moving
IMG_0564.movFlyball launch
Final Result
The machine was able to aim, and shoot balls quite reliably. However, there are several components that still need to be worked on for the final product of the initial project scope.
Remaining concerns that need to be worked on:
The electrical is a mess and mildly fragile.
It’s not very weatherproof.
It doesn’t have impact protection and could potentially tip over
It has to be plugged in and doesn’t have a battery pack.
The programming needs to be finished (i.e. servo motors and encoder readings from the aiming and turning mechanism)
There needs a ball guide on the feeder arm and a stand for the feeder tube
Addition of limit switches.
The progress is very close, the last bit of optimizations on the controls system and feeder could be taken on as a future project. Furthermore, the project scope can be changed to optimize the entire machine and add components such as wheels to move the entire assembly and a better housing for the electronics.
Page updated
Report abuse