Fully functional, Arduino‑controlled spring‑launch shuttle roller coaster
My first functional roller‑coaster prototype taught me essential lessons in design and engineering principles, and its completion highlighted several areas in need of improvement. The most significant issue was structural stability. I underestimated the train mass required for full circuit completion, which stemmed from two calculation errors: using the minimum calculated lift‑hill height rather than incorporating a safety margin, and encountering higher‑than‑expected frictional losses.
For this new model, I am focusing on improving the design as a whole, with particular attention to addressing these specific shortcomings.
This project is currently in the physical assembly stage. Below are several SolidWorks assembly images that illustrate the current progress.
The model is 8.5 x 1.75 x 3.5 ft
Below are various images of early-stage physical assembly
