To design and build an mechatronic penny arcade game (MPAG).

To gain experience creating an electro-mechanical system using sensors, driving actuators, a C32 microcontroller, and event-driven software implemented in C. The project emphasizes robust electronics, software and mechanical systems built with real craftsmanship.

 

 

Requirement: Each complete MPAG must be a self contained entity, capable of meeting all specifications while connected only to the project power supply that will be provided. Design Solution: Spinning Wheel is completely contained within the console, except for the occasional wild toss of the groovy neon balls

 

Requirement: A team of three class members will construct each MPAG. Design Solution: Parmita Dalal, Christine Tower, and Barry Wohl are the sole dreamers, designers, and builders behind Spinning Wheel.

 

Requirement: The team must construct the MPAG. While it is permissible to incorporate consumer devices, such devices must be substantially modified before inclusion into your project. It is not acceptable to simply buy significant portions of your project. Design Solution: Spinning Wheel is a hot-glued, nail-gunned, and taped-up original masterpiece.

 

Requirement: Each Mechatronic Penny Arcade Game (MPAG) must pay homage in spirit to games that you would find in a traditional penny arcade. Design Solution: Spinning Wheel is a fun, simple MPAG similar to a classic carnival game.

 

Requirement: Interactions with each MPAG will begin with the insertion of a standard US penny into the MPAG. Design Solution: Penny is detected by passing through an opto-interrupter

 

Requirement: The time needed to explore all of the interactions in an MPAG (from the insertion of the penny to the completion of interactions) should be in the range of 20-60 seconds. Design Solution: Timers are in place within the C-code to give the user a set amount of time for each action.

 

Requirement: The time for interactions should be limited and a clear indication given when that time has expired. Design Solution: Red, yellow, and green flower lights act much like a stop light to indicate where the user is in the game. Red is on before the game begins, a few seconds before game starts, yellow turns on, and then while game is in play the green light turns on. When there are only 10 seconds of play time left, the yellow light turns on again, and finally, at the game's conclusion, the red light turns on and a buzzer sounds to indicate the end of the game.

 

Requirement: Each MPAG must dispense Stuff Won in an Arcade Game (SWAG). Design Solution: The prize, an acrylic peace-sign coin, is dispensed at the end of every game using a servo motor...because everyone’s a winner!

The following three requirements refer to the 3 interactions (actions by the visitor) required to fully experience each MPAG (not including the coin sensor).

Requirement: At least one of the interactions should require an analog response from the user. Design Solution: Level select knob adjusts a potentiometer which gives analog signal to C32 microcontroller which in turn controls the speed of the motor that turns the wheel. There are three different ranges: slow (“Chill”), medium (“Groovy”), and fast (“Psychedelic”).

Requirement: At least one of the interactions must involve non-contact sensing. Design Solution: Balls pass through an opto-interrupter consisting of a phototransistor and IR LED that face each other on either side of the ball tube. This interruption of signal causes an LED to light up on the front panel. For each ball scored, a new LED lights up.

Requirement: a third interaction Design Solution: Various flashing LEDs indicate required user interactions.