Mobile controlled mini ping-pong ball shooter

Note: This project includes only raw, unedited photos and documentation: no polished visuals or final videos.

A third-semester mini-project: a tabletop ball shooter with adjustable launch angle and timing. Built under tight constraints using scrap materials, the focus was on mechanical reliability and functional control over aesthetics.

Two main goals: Scale it down & Make it cheap

Early Iteration

We aimed to replicate commercial ball shooters with a bulkier setup, using a tripod mount and a chain-driven mechanism to rotate two large discs. Inspired by industrial designs, the idea was to create a high-power, stable shooter with DC motors— but it quickly proved impractical for a compact, low-cost prototype.

We pivoted to a twin BLDC motor setup, reducing weight and complexity while maintaining performance.

Prototyping

We first tested the device digitally on Tinkercad before moving to the actual prototype.

Try out the simulation here - link

Why didn’t we go for single-wheel shooter?

We tried to use a single-wheel shooter, aiming for simplicity and speed. However, it failed to provide consistent launch due to poor grip and directional instability. Switched to a dual-wheel counter-rotating mechanism like planned, which significantly improved shot balance and accuracy.

Here’s us testing out the prototype.

Launch angle and timing were controlled via a basic web interface hosted on ESP32.

Speed adjustment was done manually using a resistor due to:

• PWM instability at low voltages
• Time constraints that limited sensor calibration

Despite the constraints, the prototype successfully demonstrated key control logic, mechanical iteration, and low-cost embedded system integration.

A raw, functional prototype — built fast, built scrappy.

Meet the team: Eben Tom Thomas, Saketh Santosh, Joshua Jacob and Myself.

The project was our 3rd year B.Tech project which is done in a period of 2 months effectively. I would like to thank our