Jarrett Prchal and Katheryn Woo

For now, our goal is to create our device so that it can complete the requirements one time. After that, we will work on finding an ideal gear ratio that maximizes angular velocity but still has enough of a force advantage to lift as many weights as possible in a minute.

Initial Design

Function: Our device must lift a 200g mass placed on a string from the floor up to the level of a brick on the table it sits on. Then, the device must rotate to hover the weight over the brick. Once the device has transported the weight over the brick, we can remove the weight manually. If the task is completed once, the goal is to have it return the string to the floor and lift another weight until one minute is up.

System: We will build a system of at least two motors. One motor will be on the bottom, lying on the side. The second motor will be supported above the other motor. They will be connected by an axle up the middle along with additional support on both sides and the back of the top motor. We are also planning to build out a gear system going from small to large to create a force advantage so the motor can lift the weight. Finally, we will build a base that includes the NXT brick, which will counterbalance the weight added to the device.

Integration: The bottom motor will fit into the base so the base can counterbalance the weight on the other end of the motor system. The gear system will begin at the motor axle and continue upwards away from the motor on both sides of the motor. The final gear will have an axle connecting both gear systems that will spin with the gears. As the axle spins, it will wind up the string, and the weight with it. Below is a rough sketch: