Hardware Design
Hardware Design
Embedded Files
To help the player engage in Ed's Grand Edventure, we created a realistic scene including Ed's RV and many Stanford Landmarks. The hardware design included the design of a playful game board along with mounts for the many moving components included in the game. The design was created with simple assembly and delightful user interaction in mind.
Initial Brainstorming
CAD rendering showing overall device dimensions
Ed's RV design began with an initial sketch (left), and a CAD model (above). The RV is based on Ed Carryer's Itasca Viva RV. A few notable changes that occurred throughout the design process:
The addition of a backboard, both as an aesthetic choice, but also to provide additional shade for the spotlight to appear as bright as possible
The replacement of an LCD display with an LED matrix display to simplify the project into more familiar tasks
Subsystem 1: Ed's RV Design
Subsystem 1: Ed's RV Design
Construction notes: The RV is constructed entirely out of laser cut white, black, and clear acrylic, and is fixed together using acrylic cement and CA glue.
All components of Ed's RV, cut and prepared for assembly
Subsystem 2: Spotlight Motion
Subsystem 2: Spotlight Motion
CAD Rendering of Spotlight module
The Spotlight motion mechanism consists of two servos, one for each degree of freedom. The servos are attached using a 3D printed PLA adapter, and the spotlight is attached using a press fit into a 3D printed resin mount.
Construction notes: Though holes for screws were printed into all 3D printed components, the screws that came with the servos were slightly large and stripped easily, so CA glue was used to attach components instead.
Fabricated Components
Subsystem 3: Ed's RV Gas Tank Filling Mechanism
Subsystem 3: Ed's RV Gas Tank Filling Mechanism
CAD Rendering of Gas Tank Mechanism
The effect of filling Ed's gas tank is achieved using a rotating drum with an attached belt. The belt is clear plastic with a black strip painted to indicate the gas filling. The drum rotates 180° during the game, pulling the painted strip through the length of the window.
Construction notes: To prevent tearing of the gas belt, the drum and window bars were printed in resin and hand-filed until smooth. The drum was stabilized using a 1/4" dowel rod attached to the top panel of the RV using CA glue.
Gas Tank Mechanism Top View
Subsystem 4: The Base
Subsystem 4: The Base
Assembled Laser-cut Parts
The device base consists of three layers: a bottom duron layer that the main electronic components are secured to, a middle duron layer that all user-interactive components are mounted to, and a top matboard layer to hide messy electronics from view. The top layer is supplemented by a layer of sturdy foam to support the weight of Ed's RV.
Construction notes: The base is constructed mainly from 1/8" duron (for structural durability), and covered in black matboard for a clean finish. All parts are laser cut and details are added using the laser cutter's rastering capabilities.
Subsystem 5: The Targets
Subsystem 5: The Targets
Illustrator Designs
The game targets were inspired by various Stanford landmarks: Palm drive, the Papua New Guinea Garden, the Claw Fountain, the Dish, Hoover Tower, and Memorial Church.
Construction notes: The targets were laser cut out of 0.060" clear acrylic and hand-bent using pliers and a heat gun to stand up over illuminating LEDs.
Finished Ed-Splorer
Finished Ed-Splorer
Details about the design and fabrication processes are included above, including files (so you can make your own Ed-Splorer)! Onshape and Illustrator were used to create all parts for 3D printing and laser cutting, and all parts were fabricated in Room 36 of the Stanford Product Realization Lab.
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