Texture Taker

Overview

The purpose of this project is to find out if the textures of an object affects how well a claw machine can pick it up. The scientific question is whether different textures make a difference in how accurate the claw is and how often it can grab an object. The hypothesis is that if an object has a grippy or rough texture, then the players will win it more often because the claw can hold onto it better. To test this, a claw machine was built using VEX robotics parts, a Hummingbird coding kit, a VEX controller, string, pulleys, and metal base plates. Three rubber ducks with different textures were used. One covered in grippy glove material, one smooth, and one covered in fluffy fur from a plush toy. Each duck was tested 20 times and the number of successful pick ups was recorded. The results showed that the grippy duck was picked up most often. The fluffy duck was picked up less often and the smooth duck was picked up the least. The conclusion is that the hypothesis was correct, because objects with rough or grippy textures are easier for the claw to hold and win.

Competition history

• CSEF 2026 Applied Mechanics (Junior Division) · Entry J-02-03

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