BDA 40804

INTERGRATED ENGINEERING DESIGN

GROUP PROJECT PROPOSAL

TITLES : BALL LAUNCHER (GRASSHOPPER)

NAME MATRIC.NO

MUHAMMAD AZMEER BIN ZAMRI CD160002

PARTHIBANRAJ A/L SELVARAJ CD160052

JOACHIM DASS A/L SAVARIMUTHU CD160071

ROBIN RAJENDRAN CD160145

AHMAD MUZNI BIN SHAFIE CD150113

LECTURERS : PROF. Ts. Dr. BADRUL BIN OMAR

SUBMISSION DATE : 25/2/2019
Product background

This design is inpired by the unique and powerful hind leg of grasshoppers in which
the ratio of the distance travelled by the grasshopper and its body weight is high. This
biological design can be adapted and implemented in our innovation to facilitate relocation of
object. Our focus of interest is narrowed to sports technology where the elements and
inspiration obtained from the grasshopper hind legs will be used to design a fully mechanical
ball launcher, appropriate for all types of balls from different sizes. The launching
mechanism also is a combination of working principle from pistol, specifically the trigger
mechanism in order to transfer spring potential energy to exert impact force to the ball in
order to launch it away from the system. ome of the pioneer in the sports equipment
manufacturers that we will

Problem statement

Ball launcher has been introduced for several purpose and our design project is
targetting to a group of people involving in sports training, may it be the athletes themselves,
as well as coaches. By redesigning existing ball launcher, it creates impact of utilizing single
ball launcher device for various type of balls and sizes as well as increase the productivity
and training quality of the athelets. This also saves energy of the coach in which ball
throwing would require so much of energy. This ball launcher device is suitable to be used
during training period, in both indoor and outdoor facility as minimal protection is needed for
the device as it is a fully mechanical machine, especially places with lack of electric source as
it works with mechanical system. Through the aid of this device, coaches can concentrate on
monitoring the athlete performance and training regimen instead draining their energy by
throwing the ball at irregular force and accuracy during training session.
Project Objective/Requirement

The main objective of the project is to design and produce a cheap, light weighed and multi
ball launcher for sports related industry. Basically, the developing prototype will be inspired
using biomimicry approach. The most relatable biological idea to the proposed ball launcher
project are using the grasshopper hind leg. This ball launcher can be widely used in most of
the sports that uses ball as the main part of the game such as tennis, cricket, soft ball and also
ping pong. The ball launcher would help players to train themselves hitting the ball fired from
the launcher.

The second objective of the project is to design and develop a full mechanicaly functioning
ball launcher without the need to use electrical supply in order to be brought and used
anywhere at any time. Since the proposed ball launcher are expected to function mechanicaly
there are no trouble of finding for power supply at any time the ball laucher are intended to be
used.

Product Objective/Requirement

The main objective of the product is to have the grasshopper’s hind leg design. A grasshopper
uses its back leg to hop high. The same concept of the leg is taken into the designing of the
product. The product will have a hind leg like design installed with springs and other
appropriate mechanical materials to be able to launch balls.

The product’s functionality is it will be able to launch balls without the supply of electricity
due to its mechanical build concept. In terms of maintenance and pricing, the ball launcher
are expected to possess a lower maintenance cost and can be built with lower cost compared
to other design ball launchers found on the market. This is because the launcher are to be
developed with only mechanical equipments which means there would not be involvement of
materials such as air compressors, power boxes and motors. So that, the maintenance and
fabrication cost of the ball launcher are expected to be low which also would put the pricing
of the product at lower and more affordable level compared to other products in the market.
Target Maket Potential Customer

Before

Previously launcher was imtroduced with different characteristic compare with our
idea. Previous model has capability of 10 to 80 mph of speed. A variety of launch setting was
used to different techniques and training regimes. Mostly it was targeted to 100 milion of
tennis player around the world.

Now

Based on our new product it will benefit around 265 milion of football players around
the world. Previous model was automated made by electrical. But our project are fully
mechanical. The amount to buy this product is much more cheaper than the previous model.
This product would also benefit for other sports such as tennis, softball, cricket and
volleyball.

Traning academy will need this type of instruments. Coaches normally dont have time
to focus o n their players intensively like help them to throw ball towards them for training
purpose. Coaches have so many task to do train their players well. So they cant be spend a
lot of time to for each and every players. These product would be a perfect material that
replace them or assist them to throw balls.

Even sometimes dog owners also can use these device to train their dog. There were
many dog owner around the world dont have time or lazy to play with dogs. Dogs are become
active if we regularly play with them. One of their favourite activities are picking up balls.
So, dog owner will end up in tires as they repetately throw balls towards dogs to pick up.
Thus, these product will help hem to do the same job.
PRODUCT INITIAL SKETCH

This is our initial sketch for our product. There will be a changed from time to time based on
the improvement that will be made on future.

DESIGN 1

DESIGN 2
Project Planning
No. Activities Sub-topic W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8 W9 W10 W11 W12 W13 W14 W15
P
Team Formation
A
P
Proposal Submission
A
P
Product Background
A
P
1 Introduction Problem For Existing Product
A
P
Project Objective, Scope, Significance
A
P
Literature, Patent Search, Catalogue
A
Comparison of product P
from patent search A
Benchmarking of product P
2 Define Task
from products A
P
Market Surveys
A
P
Objective Tree, QFD and EDS
A
Decomposition Analysis, P
Function Structure A
Concept Generation - P

MID SEMESTER BREAK

Morphological Chart A
3 Conceptual Design
P
Product Sketching
A
P
Concept Evaluation & Selection
A
P
Product Architecture
A
EMBODIMENT DESIGN P
4 Configuration Design
& ANALYSIS A
P
Parametric Design
A
P
Detail Drawing - Parts & Assembly
A
P
DETAIL DESIGN Product Analysis & Simulation
A
5 & PRODUCT
SIMULATION P
Bill Of Materials (Bom)
A
P
Final Product Design Specification
A
P
Product Prototyping
A
P
Testing Requirement & Checklist
PROTOTYPING A
6
& TESTING P
Testing & Refinement
A
P
Final Prototype Product
A
P
Elements & Concept On Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY & A
ENVIRONMENTAL Impact Of Engineering Solution P
7
CONSIDERATION IN To Sustainable Development A
ENGINEERING DESIGN Social And Environmental P
Responsibilities A
P
Cost Evaluation
ECONOMIC, COSTING A
8
& BUSINESS PLAN P
Business Plan
A
9 PROJECT Conclusion & Recommendations