Automatic Spring Powered Cannon

About the Project

The Automatic Spring-Powered Cannon is a mechanical engineering project that showcases energy transfer and projectile motion principles. Unlike traditional spring-powered devices requiring manual compression, this cannon uses a rack-and-pinion mechanism driven by an electric motor to compress the spring automatically, enabling the launch of lightweight projectiles. The project explores key concepts like spring constants, kinetic energy, and gear ratios, making it ideal for educational demonstrations and small-scale engineering experiments. For remote operation, the cannon is controlled via radio communication and powered by a micro:bit microcontroller.

Awards

- Judge's Best Design Choice: Macau Communications Electronic Device Design Competition

Front view of the spring powered cannon

Complete assembly of the automatic spring-powered cannon.

Failed 3D print of chamber mount

One of our failed 3D prints, our cannon went through many iterations!

Nut guide for screw drive mechanism

This is the part holding the nut for the screw drive mechanism to change the cannon's angle of elevation. However, the nut trap was too big. Oops!

Award ceremony

Our design won Judge's Best Design Choice, featuring my teammate Marcus!

Hinge mechanism 3D model

3D modeled part of the hinge mechanism, screenshot taken from Autodesk Inventor.

Cannon in competition

Completing the competition mission, showcasing our cannon's unique operating mechanism.