SparBot

Inspiration

This is a fully functional continuation of my "SparBot Prototype" project. I couldn't find any boxing product on the market that trains head movement while being realistically unpredictable, all head movement trainers I've seen don't actually have you react to anything. They are all predictable because they're made to work completely by natural movement. I created the solution.

What it does

SparBot unpredictably swings a bar at your head at random intervals and random speeds. When you stand within its range, you must use your reflexes to dodge out of the way before it smacks you in the face.

How I built it

The materials to build SparBot include: an Aruino Uno REV3, 12V DC motor, jumper wires, copper wires, 12V 3A power supply, phone power bank, a tripod, pipe insulation, and an L289 DC Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver Module. I connected the Arduino Uno and motor driver module via male-female jumper wires. I cut off the wire of the power supply to expose the copper and screwed the wire into the driver module to power it. The motor driver module is then connected to the DC motor with extra copper wire and electrical connectors. I then used a wire to connect the Arduino to my PC and uploaded C++ code to the board which was relayed to the DC motor. I assembled all of it by connecting the DC motor to a tripod and securing pipe insulation onto it with tape and an allen wrench.

Challenges I ran into

I ran into several challenges with this project. The DC motor used for the prototype was too small and weak to swing a bar once I had attached one to it. I had to upgrade to a larger and more powerful motor. It was also a struggle figuring out how to secure the insulation pipe onto the motor, but after rummaging around in grandpa's garage I found that I could tape on a thick allen wrench to get the 90 degree angle and secure the insulation onto that.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I'm proud that despite several challenges and obstacles, I completed what I set out to do. The robot is fully functional and is exactly what I envisioned.

What we learned

I gained valuable experience with C++ and working with electrical components. This project has given me a lot more confidence with creating independent projects.