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Project Ideation
Project Ideation
1- Tell us about the purpose of your project. Which problem does it solve? Why do you care about this? What were you inspired by? Include images and videos of similar projects
1- Tell us about the purpose of your project. Which problem does it solve? Why do you care about this? What were you inspired by? Include images and videos of similar projects
The “problem” I’m trying to solve might sound simple, but it’s real — boredom 😅. While calling it a problem might seem like a stretch, we all have those moments when console games, mobile games, and even hanging out just doesn’t feel exciting anymore. That’s when a retro-style, physical game can be a refreshing experience 🎮.
There’s something special about the tactile feel of arcade machines — the joysticks, buttons, lights, and motion. It’s not just tapping a screen or holding a modern controller. It’s real, nostalgic, and fun ✨. That’s the energy I want my final project to bring — something hands-on and exciting, with an old-school twist.
Originally, I thought about recreating a small version of an existing arcade game, but that didn’t feel challenging enough. So I decided to design my own unique game 🔧.
My biggest inspiration came from Thomas Burns, a maker and content creator I really admire. He combines modern tech with retro aesthetics in the coolest way. One of his projects, Alexatron, was an AI robot with an animatronic eye — and that eye honestly stole the show 👁️. It looked so alive and expressive.
Thomas Burns
That idea really stuck with me and led to the concept of my game: "Follow the Eye". It’s an arcade-style game based entirely around the movement of an animatronic eye — blending electronics, creativity, and nostalgic fun into one interactive experience.
2- Describe the project idea and general features. How would it work?
2- Describe the project idea and general features. How would it work?
After deciding that the entire game would revolve around a mechatronic eye, the concept naturally shaped into something both interactive and challenging. As the name suggests "Follow the Eye 👁️" the game challenges the player’s focus and reflexes.
The setup consists of a central animatronic eye placed at the center of an octagon-shaped base. Surrounding the eye are eight sections, and at each section’s outer edge, there’s an LED, making a total of 8. The eye can rotate in 360°, looking toward any of these 8 directions. When it focuses on a side, the corresponding LED lights up, and the player needs to identify the direction and respond quickly by pressing the correct button 🎯.
The control panel will include:
=The 8 physical buttons arranged to match the directions.
=An LCD screen that displays the current score and difficulty level.
=A mode selector, which allows the user to choose between:
-Medium
-Hard
-Impossible 💀
Each level increases the eye’s speed, reduces the reaction window, and intensifies the challenge.
To boost visual complexity and excitement, a circular LED light matrix will animate from the center (where the eye is) to the edges, tracing the direction the eye is pointing in. This adds a vibrant, arcade-style aesthetic to the game 🌀💡.
A simple sound system will be included for game effects, feedback sounds (correct/incorrect), and maybe background music — enhancing the overall experience and making it feel like a mini retro arcade 🎮.
3- Sketch your project: You may use pen and paper or a simple sketching tool like Microsoft Paint or Photoshop
3- Sketch your project: You may use pen and paper or a simple sketching tool like Microsoft Paint or Photoshop
Project Planning
Project Planning
4- Describe the Technical Modules that your project consists of
4- Describe the Technical Modules that your project consists of
Construction Parts
The body will be made out of laser cut plywood assembled with m3 screws and nuts.
The mechatronic eye parts will be 3D printed
Input
(Sensing, Tactile Input, and/or Graphical Input)
Push buttons
Action
(Physical and/or Graphic)
The animatronic eye will be moving 360 degrees.
The led matrix will preform a circular movement.
Brain
Arduino MEGA
Power Management
Wall Adapter
5- Create a cardboard prototype of your project, demonstrating the project face as well as internal movements and mechanisms. Include a demo video and photos of the prototype.
5- Create a cardboard prototype of your project, demonstrating the project face as well as internal movements and mechanisms. Include a demo video and photos of the prototype.
6- Categorize your project’s User Features into: Minimum, Complete, and Nice-to-have features. List the required action and input components per feature.
6- Categorize your project’s User Features into: Minimum, Complete, and Nice-to-have features. List the required action and input components per feature.
Minimum Features: are the least amount of features that would demonstrate the coverage of all the technical modules and their complete integration
Complete Features: are the set of features that will complete your original project objective and vision
Nice-to-have Features: are the extra set of features that will make the project cooler, yet they need extra time, effort, and/or resources to finish
Minimum User Features
LCD reacting to button selection
Action: LCD output
User Input: push button
Working outer LED rgb strips
Action: LED matrix
Complete User Features
-Working 360 animatronic eye related to led outer ring
Action: Moving mechanism corresponding to game and led system
-The background LED matrix interacting with the game
Action: working led matrix interacting with the eye mechanism
-Difficulty selection
Action: Changes the speed of the eye and reduce the allowed time
User Input: choosing between normal/hard
Nice-to-have User Features
-Sound system
Action: Working corresponding to user situation
-Free mode
Action: Moves the eye as the player wants
User Input: choosing between menu selections
7- What are the required electronic components and materials for the project?
7- What are the required electronic components and materials for the project?
Component/Material
Amount
Link
Arduino Mega2560 Rev3
1 Piece
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
IIC/I2C 1602 Serial Character LCD 2x16 Display
1 Piece
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
Push Button Type 2
10 Pieces
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
LED 5mm Flashing 7 Color
48 Pieces
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
LED 5mm Red Color
8 Pieces
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
LED 5mm Metal Cover - LED Bezel Holder
56 Pieces
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
SG90 Micro Servo Motor 180° 1.8 kg.cm
4 Pieces
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
PCA9685 16-Channel 12-bit PWM Servo Motor Driver I2C Module for Arduino
1 Pieces
https://www.ram-e-shop.com
8- What are the project tasks and its time-frame?
8- What are the project tasks and its time-frame?
Task
Sub-Tasks
From:
To:
Test the electrical components
Design and assemble the eye mechanism
Design the chasis of the game
Write and test the code of the eye mechanism
Write and test the code of the game
Merge the codes of the eye and the game and ensure they are working properly
Implement the code into the arduino and test the game outside the enclosure
Implement the components into the designed enclosure
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