Designed and built a robotic pan flute system capable of producing musical notes through controlled airflow and precise mechanical positioning. Worked on the mechanical and electrical subsystems of a multidisciplinary project integrating actuation, airflow control, and real-time musical input.

Key Contributions

• Designed and assembled the mechanical structure for a rotating pan flute system, including drum, support frame, and drive components

• Developed a gear-driven rotary mechanism using a stepper motor and custom gearing to accurately position individual flute tubes

• Integrated airflow control hardware, including solenoid valves and tubing, to regulate air delivery for sound generation

• Built and wired a multi-voltage electrical system (5V, 12V, 24V) supporting servos, stepper motors, and control electronics

• Contributed to iterative prototyping and system integration to ensure reliable interaction between motion and airflow subsystems

Technical Details

• Implemented a radial (carousel-style) pan flute design, enabling compact packaging and rotational note selection

• Designed mechanical assemblies including bearing-supported rotating drum, motor mounts, and support structures

• Integrated stepper motor control with positional accuracy considerations, including gear ratios and step resolution limitations

• Developed airflow positioning system using servo-actuated angle and height adjustment for consistent tone generation

• Addressed mechanical-electrical coupling challenges such as alignment, vibration, and airflow consistency

Results / Impact

• Delivered a functional prototype capable of playing and tuning 13 distinct musical notes through controlled rotation and airflow

• Achieved repeatable note positioning and airflow control, enabling consistent tone generation

• Identified and analyzed system limitations, including stepper resolution drift and solenoid timing constraints, informing future design improvements

• Demonstrated a working proof-of-concept for automated wind-based musical instruments, a less common approach in musical robotics

• Established a scalable architecture for future expansion to multi-octave, polyphonic systems

Tools & Skills
Mechanical Design, Electromechanical Systems, Arduino Integration, Stepper Motors, Servo Systems, Prototyping, System Integration, 3D Printing