2.007 is an sophomore level design and competition class at MIT. In 2000 the contest was to put as much mass as possible in the form of hockey pucks and balls in my scoring bin (a hole in the table).

My machine accomplished this task with a set of stretched rubber bands spinning around a horizontal axis. There were three motors mounted on top of the machine, to maximize the space available for flinging balls and pucks towards my bin. Two motors for tank style steering were connected to wheel hubs with a string belt and tensioner pulley. The spinning rubber bands were powered by the third motor through the gears on the right.

The balls and pucks would get snagged by the rubber and sling-shot towards my bin. When the rubber bands were fresh and tight my machine could actually fling balls and pucks off the contest table.

It was exciting to watch, but startling for the camera man. (Sorry Woodie!)

My machine won in the first three rounds of competition and I finished tied for 9th place, out of around 70 contestants. :)