Who is SNS Automatyk?

Based at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology, SNS Automatyk is a vibrant community of young engineers, coders, and robotics enthusiasts. Our mission is to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world industrial application. We pride ourselves on a hands-on philosophy, where students take full control of the design, manufacturing, and programming phases of complex mechatronic systems.

Our portfolio is diverse, spanning several fields of automation:

Mobile Robotics: Development of autonomous AGV equipped with a LiDAR sensor

IoT & Smart Systems: Building scaled SmartHome models featuring integrated sensor networks.

RC Engineering: Designing high-performance remote-controlled vehicles with custom suspension and drive logic.

Through these projects, we foster a culture of innovation, preparing our members for careers in high-tech industries while representing our university at prestigious events and competitions.

Project RobinHood: A Safe Shooting Range

Our latest challenge was to create a safe, interactive, and high-tech indoor shooting range. This project, titled RobinHood, was born from the need for a crowd-friendly exhibition piece.

Engineering Safety via Infrared

While our initial designs utilized laser diodes, we quickly identified a significant safety risk: at public events and university open days, lasers pose a danger to the eyes of bystanders. To solve this, we pivoted to Infrared technology-utilizing the same safe, non-visible spectrum used in household remote controls.

System Architecture

The project is split into two sophisticated subsystems:

The Tagger: Controlled by an ESP32-S3, this unit handles the IR transmission. Because IR light is invisible, we’ve integrated LEDs and a vibration motor to provide tactile haptic feedback, giving the user a satisfying sense of "firing." The entire system is battery powered to ensure ease of use.

The Target Matrix: This is a complex mechanical assembly featuring three rows of lead screws. On each moving nut bracket, we’ve mounted a servo motor and an IR receiver. The system’s logic randomly selects a target, uses the stepper motors move the targets around, and flips it up via the servo to challenge the shooter.

The Need for PCBWay Support

Up until now, we have relied on homemade PCB fabrication. While this was a great learning exercise, it has reached its limits. Our current targets suffer from:

High Current: Driving the stepper motors required a lot of current, that the DIY PCB might have issues when used at longer events

Complexity: Managing the ESP32-S3, stepper drivers, and servo controllers on a DIY board leads to spaghetti wiring and issues when soldering every component on the board

Reliability: For a public-facing project, we need the gold-standard reliability that only a professional manufacturer can provide.

With PCBWay’s world-class manufacturing, we can consolidate our designs into professional PCBs that are durable enough for the rigors of travel and continuous operation at events. This support would allow SNS Automatyk to elevate RobinHood from a prototype to a showcase-ready masterpiece.

• Stepper Motor'
• Shooting Range
• IR