# 2AK-Bot

> Hackathon Mars Rover with a gripper arm and cameras, built in a day and awarded Best Overall at MasseyHacks.

Mars Rover built in a day. MasseyHacks Best Overall.

- [Devpost](https://devpost.com/software/2ak-bot)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/ariobarin/Massey-Hacks-Team-AFK)

You know you did something right when they have to rewrite the rulebook because of you. ;)

We made a Mars Rover with a gripper and arm that moves around and cameras on it. Won Best Overall at MasseyHacks. It was the kind of project you'd normally spend a month on, but we got it done in a day. My first real all-nighter. No cheating though: we followed the rules, we just came way more prepared than anyone else. They actually changed the hackathon rules after that.

I made the Bluetooth communication between the controller, computer, and ESP32 to control the driving motors and servo motors. I also designed the gripper and arm and helped with the design of the base.

The rover's arm and gripper moving during a test.

The rover assembly, including the arm and gripper.

We had designed and printed the parts in advance and tested them individually. Putting them together was another matter. Components got fried, some printed parts needed holes melted into them with a soldering iron, and the battery bank ended up outside because there wasn't enough room inside.

The open chassis on the workbench, and the team working beside it at MasseyHacks X.

Six gripper revisions, including servo-equipped versions and a failed print.

The gripper and linkage design, print-support preparation, and the arm in the rover assembly.

Testing a standalone printed gripper and servo linkage.

Further arm and base assembly photos.

An oopsie: the bracket wasn't connected properly, leaving a break line through the print.

Another gripper design and a side view of the rover assembly.

Source: https://ariobarin.com/twoak