PROJECT 3 OVERVIEW: MCHE 201 Mechatronics Avatar Robot Project Course: Introduction to Mechanical Design and Mechatronics School: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Semester: Sophomore Year Team: Team 4 🏗️ PROJECT SUMMARY: - Designed and fabricated an autonomous robot themed after James Cameron's *Avatar*. - Mission: Complete 5 complex tasks autonomously on a custom competition track using Python-controlled microcontroller. - Design constraints: ≤18" tall, 12"x24" base, must fit in regulation “box” before each run, 30 sec runtime, no damage to track or other bots. - Task scoring included: Knock 4 Toy Soldiers, Collect 4 Na’vi Lego Men, Collect 6 Fauna, Collect 3 Banshees, Rescue Jake Sully & Neytiri. 🏆 PERFORMANCE & OUTCOME: - Placed 10th out of 13 teams in live multi-team trial due to in-game interference and false starts. - Scored **1st place for design and functionality** during judged evaluation prior to head-to-head competition. 🧠 ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES (Matthew): - Led mechanical design, fabrication, and system integration of components. - Developed and refined Python code for all motion and sensor operations. - Responsible for wiring, sensor mounting, and component testing. - Hosted all team build sessions and optimized system continuously. ⚙️ CUSTOM HARDWARE INTEGRATION: - MCHE201 Microcontroller board (12V DC, Python programmable). - Large DC gearmotor for drive. - Stepper motor for high-torque, low-speed actions. - Linear actuator and solenoid for rescue task mechanisms. - IR distance sensor and magnetic proximity switch for task triggers. 🧩 UNIQUE FEATURES: - Custom overhead boom with telescoping linear actuator to reach spinning platform and rescue Banshees. - Magnetically-triggered rescue mechanism for Jake Sully and Neytiri figurines. - PID-tuned stepper logic to precisely position arm without overshoot. - Strategic weight and footprint reduction to comply with regulation dimensions. 🔧 ENGINEERING CHALLENGES: - False triggering before timer start disqualified some teams; our reset strategy recovered eligibility in time. - Tight tolerance compliance with box constraints required iterative redesign. - Sensors required shielding to avoid ambient interference. 🧪 ENGINEERING TOOLS & DOCUMENTATION: - Created detailed **House of Quality**, **Function Tree**, **Evaluation Matrix**, **Specification Sheet**, and component layout diagrams. - Wrote modular Python scripts: `main.py`, `motor.py`, `actuator.py`, `LinAct.py`, `stepper.py`, etc. - Used blue-themed aesthetic and physical design for visibility and thematic cohesion. 📂 AVAILABLE FILES (as of last working state): - Final report PDF and presentation. - House of Quality, Function Tree, Spec Sheet (image-based). - `main.py`, `motor.py`, `stepper.py`, `LinAct.py`, `actuator.py`, `pca9685.py`. 📌 KEY TERMS: - IR Sensor = Infrared Distance Sensor - FSR = Force Sensitive Resistor - PID = Proportional-Integral-Derivative control - Na’vi, Banshees = Figurines as scoring targets in the Avatar theme 📄 RESUME BULLET EXAMPLE: Led design and integration of Python-controlled autonomous robot using DC, stepper, and actuator motors; earned 1st place in judged design scoring for full autonomous functionality and engineering quality across 5-task competition.
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