📅 October 2nd, 2025 → December 3rd, 2025

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Problem Statement:

Create an end effector system for a warehouse where customers can create accounts, place orders, and ordered items are consistently transported from storage to the shipping parcel location.

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Image 1.0: Final design

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Design Functions:

• The Q-Arm should operate at reasonable speeds to ensure safety
• The end effector should avoid damaging objects during the transport process
• The Mechanism should be kept simple and robust for ease of 3D printing and strength
• The end effector must be lightweight so the motors have enough power to operate </aside>

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Design Objectives:

• The software and hardware should work fluidly together
• The software should be robust, handling errors and edge cases
• The system should obtain unique order lists from barcode scanner and transport the ordered items accordingly </aside>

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Design Constraints:

• Materials used in the design should be easily accessible
• The UI/UX and user flow should be clean and intuitive to ensure ease of use
• The end effector must output high torque to produce a strong gripping force
• The design should account for small inaccuracies in the Q-Arm positioning
• The design should create high amounts of friction to improve grip </aside>

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Some Assigned Tasks Include:

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• Meetings </aside>

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• Design </aside>

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• Code </aside>

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Overall Accomplishments

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Design Process

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Reflection

One takeaway that our group learned was not to be reliant on hardware. During testing of our first design, we repeatedly encountered error messages preventing the servo from moving. This caused design studio sessions to go from testing to debugging, delaying the identification of the issues with our design.

Looking back, I would approach our prototyping phase differently. Firstly, because our initial design used many small components, we should have explored more variations. instead of only adjusting the height and arc of the prongs, we should have experimented with different gear ratios. If we had done so, we could have applied what we learned to the second design, reducing the number of iterations required. Time was the biggest factor behind the small inaccuracies of the Q-Arm, and although making the decision to switch earlier could solve this, I believe that our decisions were appropriate at the time.

This project has provided me the opportunity to further develop my skills in communications, project management, and other technical skills like software development and CAD. Moving forward, I will continue to use these skills to help my team with alleviating stress through checking in on members and establishing clear lines of communication, helping to assign tasks and set deadline to ensure the project timeline is met.

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