ball shooter design

[Ernst]

Regarding the tennis ball launcher, I think a giant slingshot would probably be the least consistent or reliable.

If you search CD for the word "launcher", you can get a good variety of threads discussing almost all feasible and conceivable ball launchers.

[bobaekimm]

The wheel pitcher sounds like the best idea to me, at least until someone can give me more pros to a slingshot or catapult (the hooking/pulling mechanisms that both of those need seem a little unnecessarily difficult to me).

[rich2202]

If you put an encoder on the wheel, you can spin it up to a repeatable speed, and hold it there. Just choose a speed that is not full speed.

[dtengineering]

Wheel shooters can give you backspin if you want it.

[Tom I]

Originally Posted by rich2202

If you put an encoder on the wheel, you can spin it up to a repeatable speed, and hold it there. Just choose a speed that is not full speed.

Yeah with an encoder to measure rpm, you can figure out if you're losing speed due to battery drain, and thus adjust the angle to make it work.