Catapult Launcher

The objective of this project is to design and build a catapult launcher that can launch the projectile as far as possible and as near as possible. It consists of 3 key design parameters which are the launching angle, arm length and projectile mass.

Initial Design Concept 1

After doing researches, I had come up with a design and structure that can launch a projectile. It is built from shoe box, chopsticks, plastic spoon, rubber band and tape. Chopsticks act as a support and arm length launcher. The spoon is a projectile holder.

Prototype 1

This is the first prototype. The shoe box is wrapped with tape to make it more sturdy and a little heavy. There spoon acts as a holder for the projectile and is hot glued to the chopstick so it would stay in place. Rubber bands are hot glued from the chopstick to another to act as a launching mechanism and there are holes for the angle of launching.

Data Analysis

With the use of Microsoft Excel, I was able to come up with a line graph for my data collections. I collected data 14 times for each angles launched at 30. 60 and 90 degrees. From there I could do engineering analysis to find the maximum height.

Design Changes

As it was only my first prototype, there were some challenges faced such as the rubber bands snapping easily, projectiles tend to fall of the holder, and it was tough to change the launching angle.

With that, I came up with another prototype.

Final Design

This is the final design.

- More tension force

- More stabilized

- Projectile holder grip is stronger

It consist of 3 spoon holder that allows more space for the projectile to rest on before being launched, more sticks at the front to add more tension, allowing the projectile to launch further.

Data Comparison

After collecting data for the final prototype the same way as I did for the first, the final prototype is definitely better than the first one.

- The projectile launch further

- It is more stable

- The statistics increased

- The final performance is better