For my mini-capstone class this semester our professor split the class up into 5 groups. Each group had a week to build a golf ball launcher out of a pre-selected rat trap. No modifications to the spring itself were allowed. Other than that stipulation it was free game. With that said, points were awarded for best design, lowest cost, accuracy, and distance.
Our group did excellent on the low cost, accuracy, and design, although we fell a little short of the long distance mark. Our basket consists of the two simple pieces of rod (one of which was the latch for the original trap). The accuracy was achieved by using hooks to measure how far to load to the spring. All in all it was a good design.
It was a fun project which required communication, a bit of innovation, and some well refined skills of trial and error.
** Sorry for the video rotation
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