Interactive Trivia Arcade Game
February - May 2024
OBJECTIVE:
Design and build an interactive exhibit to educate elementary and middle-school students about the environmental impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems, using a game-based system to encourage engagement and reinforce conservation awareness.
SKILLS USED:
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CAD Software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD)
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C++ Coding
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3D Printing
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Laser Cutting
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Prototyping
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Mechanical Design
PROCESS:
This project was a part of my Cornerstone of Engineering course in my freshman year. I worked in a team of four people to design and build an interactive exhibit from start to finish.
The process began by creating initial sketches and building a cardboard prototype, shown below.
Once the prototype was complete, I used SolidWorks and AutoCAD to design a servo motor actuated candy dispenser with a 3D printed barrel and laser cut housing, shown below.
To optimize the dispenser, I tested the actuation with many different start angles and inner ramp geometry to provide the most consistent candy delivery with the least risk of jamming. I wrote a function in C++ to incorporate with the rest of our code that automatically actuated and reset the actuator once the user reached a set score.
I then modeled custom LED score indicators and a pushbutton in SolidWorks, before 3D printing them and integrating them with the rest of our design. The first prototypes are shown below.
RESULTS:
The finished product, shown below, was a success, and was voted best in the class by judges. The integrated lights had startup and victory sequences, and the automated candy dispenser worked as planned with minimal intervention. Throughout the engineering process, I developed my skills in SolidWorks, AutoCAD, C++, mechanical design, and team collaboration.
