Inspiration

As the second endeavor of a Mechatronics class at UPenn, I was tasked with creating a robot that would be able to carry a 1/2 kg weight through a labyrinth operated through a wired controller. I wanted one of my first robot creations to be as sleek and elegant, so I sought inspiration from one of the creatures I found most fantastic: the shark. Sharks are haunting and evocative and I wanted this robot to reflect that in its shape.

The process

I explored the mechanical and electrical aspects of the robot.  The electronics were straightforward as we were provided with a controller with two joysticks that would emit a varying  voltage. I hooked these signals directly to an inverter and H-bridge in order to control each of the wheels, and thus be able to control Jawsome's movement through differential driving.

Aesthetically, the most challenging aspect was to t in all the necessary components, including a 1/2 kg weight, within a 15 cm diameter by 13 cm cylinder, while incorporating my vision of having a shark-shaped robot.  Sharks are elegant, long and slim,  so because of the size constraints, the resulting design is that of a slightly overweight shark- but a shark nonetheless.