VEX U Competition Robots

In VEX U's OVER UNDER game, robots score by controlling tri-ball game objects, and the best teams can retain, launch, or push them on demand. I contributed to Team WHOOP5's robots through AutoCAD schematic redesign and a season of iterative mechanism development.

The Extendable Friction Launcher

My main contribution was iterative development of an extendable friction launcher: a single mechanism that could hold a tri-ball for control, launch it across the field, or push it through contested zones depending on what the match demanded. Getting three behaviors out of one mechanism meant fewer subsystems, less weight, and faster cycle times.

Results

WHOOP5 took 1st place at the 2024 VEX U OVER UNDER Texas State Championship and went on to place at the World Championship.

Top Skills Utilized

• AutoCAD
• Mechanism Design
• Rapid Iteration
• Competition Strategy