2026Mechatronics

Reaction Dropper

One of my less complex projects, but one of the largest in size — a 1.2 m diameter curved drop rig, fully designed and built within four days to be ready for a Canada Day community event.

Timeline: 2026
Status: Completed
Team: Independent project

Technologies

Autodesk Fusion 3603D printingESP32BluetoothElectromagnetism

01

Overview

Used outdoors at a Canada Day community event, the Reaction Dropper tests reaction speed and hand-eye coordination. Several rods hang in front of the player and drop at random times — the goal is to catch each one as quickly as possible before it falls.

The Reaction Dropper rig set up under the E-Bots Robotics team tent at a community event, with kids gathered around the control table. — Set up and running at a public community event.

02

Electronics & Control

User interface and difficulty controller with indicator lights and a switch. — User Interface & Difficulty Controller

Full user interface with power switch, close-up of the control box internals. — Full User Interface with Power Switch

Wiring running from the arc to the MOSFET board that controls each magnet individually. — MOSFET Board for Individual Magnet Control

The complete wiring center console inside the arc. — Complete Wiring Center Console

03

In the Field

The rig running with real users at a public event.

04

CAD Model

Fusion 360 Fully CADded Design

The printed arc, straight out of CAD. Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom.

Drag to rotate · Scroll to zoom

CAD render of the curved dropper arc, three-quarter view. — CAD — isometric

CAD render of the dropper arc viewed from the side. — CAD — side

CAD render of the dropper arc viewed from above. — CAD — plan

05

Gallery

The arc mounted on its tripod, seen across a room.

The arc on the tripod with cabling attached.

The event tent with the rig set up beside it.

Visitors at the event booth.

The booth from another angle during the event.

The arc held up outdoors, showing its curve.

Close-up of the arc electronics outdoors.

A participant reaching towards the arc.

Underside of the arc at the tripod mounting point.