Cat Cannon is ‘a celebration of academics and athletics’

At most sporting events, T-shirt cannons launch fabric into nearby sections of the crowd. But Interdisciplinary Capstone Team 25502 reimagined that experience. The team has developed a high-tech patent-pending cannon to transform the way fans engage with a cherished sporting tradition.

"When you’re at a basketball game and someone comes out with a T-shirt cannon and fires it -- there’s not really that sense of ‘Whoa, that was impressive,’” said Daniel Northcott, systems engineering major and team lead. “The traditional cannon barely reaches the second level of the stadium.”

Northcott, along with members Skyler Stokes, a mechanical engineering major, and Jose Elizarraras, an electrical and computer engineering major, joined the project for similar reasons.

“It seemed the most fun, interesting and groundbreaking,” Northcott said.

The team has been refining the design since spring 2024 and will present a prototype at the Craig M. Berge Winter Design Day on Dec. 5.

Engineering alum brings personal touch to project

Team 25502 is sponsored by Seton Claggett’s BATYL Industries startup company. The College of Engineering graduate holds a bachelor's and master's in hydrology.

As a proud University of Arizona alumnus passionate about both academics and athletics, Claggett was eager to improve the T-shirt tosses at games.

“I was in talks with the men's basketball team, and they wanted ideas for better fan engagement and experiences,” Claggett said. “I pitched my idea, and they gave me the green light.”

The team studied existing T-shirt cannon designs, then identified ways to improve their performance and audience appeal. Their goal was to develop a model that reaches people in the farthest seats.

The Cat Cannon features a multi-barreled, multi-directional design that launches multiple balls in rapid succession to all sections of the crowd. Audience members can trade in their catch at a designated spot for a variety of sponsored swag, like shirts, mugs, or free food, for example.

To guarantee crowd safety, the team conducted preliminary tests at McKale with U of A’s Risk Management and McKale Operations team.

“We’re learning to collaborate across disciplines and communicate with other departments while building this project from the ground up,” Stokes said. “The documentation, presentations and processes we’re using mirror what we’ll encounter in the real workforce."

The project generated significant excitement, not only for its playful concept but also for the rare opportunity it gives the team to debut their creation inside McKale Center – an experience they’re unlikely to forget, Claggett said.

“When the Cat Cannon rolls out for the first time, it is going to be a celebration of academics and athletics, something every Wildcat can be proud of,” Claggett said.

The Cat Cannon had a successful final test on Nov. 17. With approval from all entities, the plan is to put the cannon into action first at a U of A women’s volleyball game, then women’s basketball, and finally men’s basketball.