Rope Climbing Robot
Mechanical Design Coursework
A simple robot built to climb across a horizontal rope, designed as a study in kinematics simulation.
Year
2025
Objective
Design a simple robot that can climb across a horizontal rope, with the aim of producing smooth motion that can move the robot quickly and consistently.
Process
I discovered MotionGen, which is a platform that, compared to Fusion 360, allows me to more quickly draw, test, and adjust linkage proportions and motion path. After figuring out those proportions and shapes, I designed the robot in Fusion 360.
I used a combination of acrylic and 3D printed PLA to balance precision and structural integrity. I iterated the geometry to improve grip, climbing stability, and motion smoothness, while refining fit between parts for assembly constraints.
Outcome
Produced a functional rope-climbing robot and gained hands-on experience in mechanism design, kinematic modeling, and iterative refinement.
