Automated Baseball Field Lining Device

1. Ryan O’Connor Automated Baseball Field Lining Device

2. The Problem • The problem identified is that it is difficult to effectively lay down straight and accurate foul lines on a baseball field, making it difficult for player and umpires to distinguish between batted balls which fall fair or foul down these lines. • The equipment used to draw these lines is heavy, difficult to push, and generally uncooperative

3. The Solution • I have devised a machine that uses electrical motors to pull a chassis along a guide-wire, allowing it to pull a basin of chalk and a can of spray paint for the dirt and grass portions of the line, respectively. • The wire would reach from home plate to the foul pole, and would be strung very tightly to minimize path deviation.

4. The Project • The Project was initially planned to be a production-based project with a functioning robot • The robot was to be built from steel components and a single AC motor that would be incorporated into a gearbox that would drive a pair of pulleys on the top of the machine.

5. The Project • The primary objective of this project is to produce a functioning robot system capable of traveling in a straight path while laying down chalk and spray paint for baseball foul lines

6. The Engineering • Electrical – The robot will be powered by a DC battery mounted on the chassis. This battery will be used to power the motor that will drive the gears that pull the robot along the guide wire • Mechanical – The motor will be incorporated into a gearbox that will allow for the pulley system to pull the robot along the wire

7. The Budget • The original budget for this project was about $50.00 • My plan was to use parts from my SRC project last year to build the chassis and gearbox • I would spend the $50 on scrap and sheet metal that would be used to build the superstructure • All chalk, paint, and the basin would be provided by the Landstown Baseball team

8. The Budget • Unfortunately, I had to wait until December to confirm whether or not I would be able to use the chassis • I was then informed that I could not • I then looked into potentially buying the parts myself

9. The Budget • The robot chassis would cost between $350 and $550 • Each high-torque motor would cost between $50 and $150 • The gears, hardware, and electrical supplies would total to approximately $50 • In total, a functioning machine would cost between $500 and $900 to build

10. The Budget • This budget made self-funding the project entirely unfeasible • I was then forced to reevaluate my Senior Design Project

11. The New Project • As such, I had to transition my functioning project to a series of 2D and 3D CADD drawings (Computer Aided Drafting and Design)

12. The Learning Curve • Unfortunately, in nearly four years at Landstown, I have never taken a CADD class, and have never used the intricate, advanced drafting software needed • As such, I had to teach myself how to use AutoCAD to produce 2D drawings • I also had to teach myself how to use Autodesk Inventor Professional to produce my 3D drawings and models

13. My first “CADD”

14. My initial technical drawings

15. The Design Process • I began by designing the chassis for the robot, based on the GearsED • I measured the specifications from the GearsED chassis I used last year

16. The Design Process • I used these specifications to design a to-scale model of the chassis

17. The Design Process • I took these designs and created a 3D version, along with two axels and 4 wheels to complete the chassis

18. The Design Process • After completing the Chassis, I devised the superstructure of the robot

19. The Design Process • I again incorporated these designs into my 3D model of the chassis

20. The Design Process • After the Superstructure was complete, I designed a model of the motor that I would buy and utilize in my robot

21. The Design Process • I then took the motor and incorporated it into the superstructure assembly

22. The Design Process • Following completion of the superstructure, I began devising the chalk basin • I used the specs from the LHS Baseball team’s chalk basin for my model and created 2D drawings based on my measurements

23. The Design Process

24. The Design Process

25. The Design Process • After designing the components that would form the basin structure, I integrated them into a 3D model

26. The Design Process • I then created my own wheels to replace the stock wheels on the basin • These wheels would have low friction and high traction in both dirt and mud

27. The Design Process • I then added these wheels on low-friction axels mounted on the basin

28. The Design Process • I then had to devise a way of mounting the chalk basin to the chassis. • I custom-designed a piece that would do this

29. The Design Process • I then built a 3D model of this part and affixed it to the chassis

30. The Design Process • Next, I attached the Chalk Basin to the chassis via the custom basin mount

31. The Design Process • This left only the spray paint that would draw the outfield lines • Again, I had to engineer a custom piece that would mount the spray can • This piece would also need to be able to hold the can in the “on” position while it moves

32. The Design Process

33. The Design Process • I then incorporated this piece into the chassis

34. The Design Process

35. The Final Design • With all of the components assembled and integrated, the design was complete • The robot design is now capable of pulling itself along a guide wire • It is also capable of pulling a basin filled with chalk, as well as a can of spray paint

36. The Final Design

37. The Final Design

38. The Final Design

39. The Final Design

40. The Final Design