Teaching Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery With a Design Project: The Ping-Pong Ball Launcher Challenge

This work aims at discussing the implementation of a design project to promote the teaching-learning process of kinematics and dynamics of machinery to early undergraduate students as part of the engineering curriculum. For that, the ping-pong ball launcher challenge is chosen as a practical example, in which students, organized in groups of five, must design and develop a mechanical system capable of launching ping-pong balls. In order to make the design project interesting and exciting for students, the manufacturing and construction of physical prototype is also required. The solutions developed by each group of students must incorporate a planar mechanism and should be able to throw a ping-pong ball into a very precise target. For economic and safety reasons, the mechanical systems designed can only be actuated by gravity. There are no specific theoretical pre-requisites for this project. The fundamental topics addressed in this pedagogical activity are kinematics, dynamics, analysis and synthesis of mechanisms, selection of mechanical components and basic manufacturing and assembly of machines. The implementation of this design project embraces several different pedagogical dimensions, such as lectures, laboratory activities, deliverables, written reports, oral presentations and written exams. This work discusses the impact of the proposed design project as an effective tools for teaching kinematics and dynamics of machinery in a non-traditional manner.