Baseball Fielding Machine
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Authors
Francis, Will
Gotkin, Aaron
Hagkull, Matt
Santilli, Paul
White, Henry
Date
2022
Type
technical report
Language
en
Keyword
Alternative Title
Abstract
The team designed and developed a Baseball Fielding Machine meant to be used in youth baseball fielding practices. The complete machine was designed launch baseballs to all positions on a youth field with many different flight paths. The main goals of the device were a maximum exit speed of 31 m/s (55 m), rotate in elevation angle from -10 degrees to 70 degrees, rotate azimuthally by 90 degrees, and automatically feed balls to be launched. The device has 3 integrated structures: a propulsion frame, support frame, and base. Attached to these structures are 4 subsystem mechanisms: propulsion, ball feeder, elevation rotation, and azimuthal rotation. The device was tested for safety and effectiveness indoors without baseballs, and then outdoors with baseballs. The prototype was able to rotate azimuthally 90 degrees, rotate in elevation from -10 degrees to 50 degrees, and feed baseballs to the propulsion system. Further, the machine was able to launch a baseball a distance of 18 m. Further testing is necessary to determine the maximum exit ball speed. The total material cost of the Baseball Fielding Machine was $1669.38 though only $945.11 had to be spent due to materials provided by the Queen’s physics department. In future iterations, a ¼ hp motor would be used for propulsion and an improved safety enclosure would be implemented.