Nikola!! Meet Nikola!! Nikola has 3 subsystems: a drivetrain, an output, and a claw.
Drivetrain: Our compact, efficient drivetrain excels in maneuvering through tight junction spaces. An 8.5-inch wide, 6.9-inch tall plate houses control and expansion hubs, with one elevated on standoffs due to space constraints. Our small chassis mandates vertical motor mounting for each wheel.
Output: Our robot has a front-mounted four-stage linear slide effectively depositing cones at various junctions. The claw moves up while gripping the cone. We adjusted the motor placement for efficiency, achieving a rapid cycle of 17 cones using a high-speed motor at 1,150 RPM.
Claw: Our efficient, lightweight claw utilizes innovative design with a servo-driven gear train, allowing opposing rotation for gripping. Rubber bands on four sets of standoffs mold around cones for a tight grip. The claws open up to 8.5 inches, enabling easy cone pickup without hindering slide speed.
Why the name Nikola? Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. He is an unsung hero of modern world technology , and we named our robot after him because while he isn’t well known, his gifts to the world changed our everyday lives.