For my engineering dynamics final project, I worked with two other students to design and build a purely mechanical system that could launch a 58 gram tennis ball as far as possible. No more than 10 kilograms of counter-weight could be used as a driving force and the overall dimensions of the device could not exceed one cubic meter.

We chose to design a Multi-Radius Linear Node (MURLIN) trebuchet based on given parameters. This involved performing topology optimization for the overall height, length of the arms, and projectile string in SolidWorks such that a release trajectory closest to the calculated 45 degree launch angle was achieved, machining the arms, holes, and bearing pockets, assembling all components, and validating calculations with several test launches.

The MURLIN took first in the class by shooting a standard tennis ball 218 feet/ 66.4 meters