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Final project - presentation

Slides

Modular Robotic Maze

Assembling a medium diffculty maze layout:

In operation: - We start the timer program by pressing the button on the PCB.

  • When the robot passes the finish line, it’s deteced by the ultrasonic sensor and stops the timer.

Components:

Slides

Maze layouts:

Slides

Electronics in action:

Slides

Download your own.

A full breakdown of all the individual design files are located here Final Project Development page

All MAZE MAIN BODY Design files (zip download)

Complete PCB design files (zip download)

Final Project Code download (Arduino IDE ino file)

The BIG questions

What does it do?

  • My project is a modular maze made up of various wall and base pieces that can be put together in countless ways and designed to be used to run robotics competitions especially for kids and teens.
  • There’s also an electronics component that tracks when a robot finishes the maze and records it’s time.
  • Everything is modular and the user can choose to use as little or as much of the components as they want:
  • The maze can be used on it’s own without the elctronics.
  • You can build your maze in any layout you want. Make it as complex or simple, big or small as you like.
  • The electronics can be used on your own maze or other kind of robotics test.

Who’s done what beforehand?

  • Robot Mazes are a common challenge and tool in robtics courses and competitions.
  • At the national science centre where I work, we teach robotics in camps and clubs and run national competitions.
  • There are allot of other mazes out there, but all I’ve seen are either:
    • a fixed design, so they can’t be modified. Leading to singular solutions that only work for 1 maze.
    • made up of just allot of obstacles or cardboard that are just laid out in a patern on the floor.
  • We used a fixed 6 foot by 3 foot that we build in a woodworking workshop for years. It was hard to move to new venues, and provided a fixed one time challenge to participants.
  • I haven’t seen any maze design that tries to incorporate an electronics component as part of it’s design.

What did you design?

  • I designed the maze components (walls and base plates).
  • I designed the 3D printed parts that allow all the walls and base plates to be assembled.
  • I designed the circuit board for the electronics.
  • I designed the housing to show off and protect the electronic components.

What sources did you use?

  • I used all my Fab academy training and engineering skills to help me design my project.
  • I used my work history and experience to know what should work well for my intended audience.

Materials and components?

What, from where, and how much? - I used 5mm MDF sheets for my maze walls and - Electronic components. Digikey, amazon - PLA filament - You can see a full break of parts and costs here: Materials costs and sourcing.

What parts and systems were made?

  • All my project parts were made by myself for my final project.
  • My PCB was designed and made myself.
  • My maze walls and bases were designed and milled by myself.
  • My housing and connector pieces were designed and printed by myself.
  • I even made the springs for the battery holder by bending 2 paper clips LOL.

What processes were used?

  • PCB design using KiCAD.
  • PCB milling using Carbide Create.
  • Connectors and housing designed in TinkerCAD.
  • 3D printing using FDM printers and PLA fillament.
  • Maze walls and baseplates designed in TinkerCAD.
  • Milling of maze pieces done in Easel on a Xcarve CNC router.

What questions were answered?

  • Do I have the chops to accomplish what I envisioned.

What worked? What didn’t?

  • Everything worked, but there’s always room for imporvement.
  • The maze held together quite well, but I would like to make everything a little stronger:
  • Maybe thicker or different base material.
  • Maybe thicker or strengthened 3D printed connectors.

How was it evaluated?

  • Evaluated by my great and supportive Global Evaluator Pablo Nuñez.
  • I would really have loved to be able to get my completed project in front of a FLL team or robotics club members, but I ran out of time by the time I finally completed everything. And the robotics camps run by our institution don’t start till August.

What are the implications?

  • An increase in enjoyment and more varied challenges for all our future robotics activities participants (Clubs, camps and competitions).
  • An increase in availability of robotics activities everywhere, by promoting and giving out our designs online to wheover wants them and offering our fablab services to any locally who wants to make one with us.
  • Hopefully resulting in inspiring more kids and teens to become future engineers and programmers.
Last update: June 10, 2025