Imagine building a tiny piece of technology that tells robots exactly how they are moving, and doing it for the cost of a typical dinner. This is exactly what 18-year-old Texas student Frank Lucci set out to do with SubArc, an innovative high-resolution sensor designed to make precision robotics more affordable and accessible, reports Society for Science. Scroll down to read the details about his innovation.
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A sensor designed to make robotics more accessible
Born in San Antonio, Lucci built SubArc for his engineering project for the Regeneron Science Talent Search. He’s built a high-resolution rotary encoder, a device that converts mechanical motion into digital signals so that machines can accurately record rotation and position, explains an online report published by the Society for Science website. For the uninitiated, rotary encoders are essential parts of robotics, but high-resolution models can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. That price can be prohibitive for independent researchers, student teams and programs with limited budgets, working with advanced robotics technology, that was something Lucci was determined to change.
Precision without the price
The website states that SubArc uses magnets to measure rotation with a lot of precision. The design is also intended to be reliable in dusty environments, an important benefit for robots working outside the traditional laboratory. And Lucci’s big innovation was finding a new way to handle the signal from the sensor. This allowed him to lower the cost of parts and simplify the manufacturing process while maintaining the resolution of the sensor. The outcome is a small, open-source, customizable device that costs under $25— nearly 20 times less than similar existing options. Instead of beginning with a large and expensive prototype, Lucci took another approach. He began by designing smaller versions, building a system that could be scaled up eventually. This strategy allowed him to obtain high precision with low manufacturing costs.
A young inventor who’s eyes are on space
Lucci's engineering interests extend far beyond SubArc. He is a student at BASIS San Antonio Shavano, where he founded his school’s aerospace club and is a founding member of its robotics team, adds the online report. He is also a cross country runner, balancing athletics with an ambitious interest in science and engineering.
His experience has also led him beyond the classroom. Lucci first volunteered at Astroport Space Technologies, a lunar construction company, and then interned there. While working for the company he helped develop a robotic frame to maneuver a device that could make bricks from lunar soil, and that experience connects his work on affordable robotics to an even larger challenge: building machines that can work in the harsh and demanding environment of space.
A tiny sensor with huge potential
SubArc proves that you don’t need a huge budget to do groundbreaking engineering. By re-thinking the sensor's design, and how to process its signals, Lucci has opened up a potentially more accessible path to high-precision robotics. If open-source technology like SubArc can provide researchers and students with precision sensors at a fraction of the traditional cost, it may encourage more people to experiment, build and innovate, adds the online report.
Outside the lab
But Lucci’s hobby is surprisingly stylish; he collects promotional sunglasses frames, apart from robotics and aerospace. He has more than 30 frames in his collection and gets prescription lenses custom-cut to match their shapes. That means he can change styles whenever he wants. Lucci’s interests may be diverse—from lunar construction robots to a collection of sunglasses—but his work on SubArc shows a clear talent for turning ambitious ideas into practical inventions. His approach also shows how creative engineering can make advanced technology more affordable for the next generation of innovators.
Images Courtesy: istock and Society for Science
