Document Type

Report

Publication Date

5-2026

Abstract

Design Summary

Our device, shown in Figure 1, is an autonomous rope-walking robot designed to travel across a suspended climbing rope. The robot waits until it is hanging from the rope, moves forward using a walking arm mechanism, and stops when it approaches the marker at the end of the course. The system is fully self-contained, with onboard batteries, sensors, controls, and mechanical components housed inside a laser cut acrylic body. The robot moves using pairs of rotating arms located on both sides of the body. These arms hook around and push against the rope, creating a repeated walking motion that carries the robot forward. A motor inside the acrylic housing drives the arm mechanism through a gear system, allowing the arms to rotate continuously while staying offset from each other for smoother motion. The robot uses sensors to determine when it should start and stop. A force sensitive resistor (FSR) detects when the robot is suspended from the rope, while a distance sensor detects the end marker. A microcontroller reads these sensor inputs and controls the motor based on the robot’s current condition. An RGB LED provides visual feedback by showing whether the robot is waiting, walking, or stopped. Overall, the design combines a compact acrylic structure, a gear-driven walking mechanism, and sensor based control to allow the robot to operate autonomously during the rope walking course.

Comments

Final Project Report for ENGR-4367 Mechatronics

Additional Files
Mechatronics, Group 2 (MM,DD,CG).zip (2442 kB)
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