Texas teen builds $25 robot sensor nearly 20 times cheaper than existing options

An 18-year-old Texas student named Frank Lucci developed a high-resolution sensor called SubArc, which is nearly 20 times cheaper than existing options at under $25. Lucci designed SubArc for his engineering project in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. Rotary encoders, which convert mechanical motion into digital signals for accurate recording of rotation and position, are essential parts of robotics but can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Lucci's SubArc uses magnets to measure rotation with high precision, and its design is intended to be reliable in dusty environments. Lucci's innovation was finding a new way to handle the sensor's signal, which allowed him to lower costs while maintaining resolution. Instead of starting with a large, expensive prototype, Lucci began by designing smaller versions and scaling up.

This strategy enabled him to maintain high precision at a low manufacturing cost. Lucci, who is a student at BASIS San Antonio Shavano and founder of its aerospace club, has interests extending beyond SubArc, including a passion for space exploration and collecting promotional sunglasses frames. His SubArc invention demonstrates that groundbreaking engineering doesn't require a large budget and can open up more accessible paths to high-precision robotics.