BallBot is an autonomous table-tennis -ball collecting robot design to help quickly collect scattered ping-pong balls. The robot uses motors, sensors, and a custom-built collection mechanism to navigate around an area and gather balls. I am making this because me and my dad play and train, so we need a more efficient way to collect the balls.
Day 4 - Ballbot
Today I started working on Ballbot’s code and kind of getting a head start. I really just coded for 17 mins to keep my streak going, but I began setting up the basic software structure for the robot. I focused on getting the code ready for testing the motors and other components as I continue building the robot. I didn’t have any time to work on the physical build or the chassis today.
Day 3 - Ballbot
Today I worked on planning where the electronics and the components will go, and I reinforced the chassis a bit more with glue to make it stronger. I added a bit more cardboard parts today to fit more of the design. I also tried to extend a wire for it to reach the DC motor driver, but that didn’t go as planned :(, so overall I just continued adjusting the overall layout of Ballbot and figuring out how the different components will fit together as the build progresses. I also need to find a solution to the cardboard and components weighing the motors down, which make them slightly unaligned, feel free to give some ideas!
Day 2 — Ballbot
Today I continued building the Ballbot’s physical chassis and started shaping the robot’s overall structure. I worked on the hopper and mounted the motors and wheels on the sides of the chassis. I also planned the ball collection system so it can fit properly with the chassis. I also started figuring out the spinning mechanism that will collect the table-tennis balls, which will be an important part of making Ballbot actually function as a collector.
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BallBot Devlog #1
Today I started the physical build of BallBot by working on the base of the chassis and planning where the motors and electronics will go. I figured out the dimensions and layout for the different sections of the robot and started thinking about how to keep the electronics organized and accessible. I also ran into an issue with the DC motor wires not being long enough to reach the electronics compartment on top of the box where the balls will be. So, I planned to extend them while keeping the connections secure. This gave me a better idea of how everything will fit together before I move on to mounting the electronics and build the collection mechanism for the balls. Tomorrow I’ll be doing a lot like make the electronics section, wire everything correctly, and try to get to making it work altogether.
