Clanker

Clanker is a task-oriented robot designed for the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC). Its primary objective is to score PVC pipes, known as coral, onto a spoked scoring structure called the reef using a controlled shooting mechanism.

Skills Used
Coding Mechanism Design CAD Machinery

Clanker features a pivoting intake system that rotates downward from the robot to acquire game pieces.

A single motor drives a gear train that powers two inward-spinning compliant wheels. When the coral makes contact with these wheels, it is pulled securely into the intake and retained as the intake pivots upward.

After acquisition, the intake feeds the coral directly into the shooter assembly.

Clanker CAD
CAD model of Clanker showing intake, shooter, and drivetrain layout

Project Details

A single motor drives a gear train that powers two inward-spinning compliant wheels.

When the coral makes contact with these wheels, it is pulled securely into the intake and retained as the intake pivots upward.

The shooter itself is mounted on a pivot and driven by a dedicated motor.

Four additional motors independently control the shooter wheels.

Each launch wheel operates at a different speed.

Clanker uses a four-module swerve drive system.

The robot is programmed in Java.

Its overall design is inspired by Team 604 (Quixilver)’s QuixShot robot.