EngiMerse - Week 1

Week 1 Log: The "WOW Kit" Interactive Game

Project Status: Completed | Focus: Embedded Systems & Hardware Assembly

Project Overview

For the very first week of my Maker Diploma, I hit the ground running with the "WOW Kit." This isn't just a static circuit; it's a fully interactive hardware game. The challenge was to build a device where the user attempts to guess a randomly generated number between 0 and 9.

This project was the perfect "Hello World" to the world of making, as it required integrating three distinct layers: mechanical assembly, circuit wiring, and software logic.

The Hardware Stack (BOM)

To bring this game to life, I utilized the following components:

Microcontroller: Arduino Uno (The brain of the operation).
Visual Output: LCD Module (To display game prompts and results).
User Input: Matrix Keypad (For entering number guesses).
Audio Feedback: Piezo Buzzer (To signal correct/incorrect answers).
Connectivity: A mix of Male-to-Male and Female-to-Male jumper wires.
Enclosure: Laser-cut body panels, secured with metal nails and nuts.

The Build Process: Mechanical Assembly

The physical build required precision to ensure the device was durable and usable.

1. Base & Core Mounting I started by assembling the chassis. The first step was securing the Arduino Uno to the back face of the enclosure. Using nuts and bolts, I fastened the board tightly to prevent any movement when the USB cable is plugged in.

2. Enclosure Structure Once the brain was in place, I assembled the side edges, interlocking the panels to create the box's frame.

3. The Interface Panel (Top Face) This was the most critical part of the assembly.

Keypad Mounting: I used strong double-sided tape to adhere the keypad to the surface, ensuring it sits flush against the panel for a clean look.
LCD Alignment: The screen was mounted using nails. I had to carefully adjust them to ensure the display was level and the pins were accessible for wiring.

CHASSIS ASSEMBLY — Securing the Arduino Uno to the back panel using nuts for stability.

PERFECTOOOOO

Circuit Design & Wiring

With the physical body assembled, I moved on to the "nervous system" of the project—the wiring.

The Audio System (Buzzer) To provide immediate feedback to the player, I integrated a buzzer.

Signal: The Positive (+) leg is connected to Digital Pin 11.
Ground: The Negative (-) leg flows directly to GND in the digital bank.

The Visual System (I2C LCD) For the display, I utilized an I2C interface to minimize wiring complexity, connecting it via the analog bus.

SCL (Clock Line): Yellow Wire ➔ Connected to Pin A5.
SDA (Data Line): Orange Wire ➔ Connected to Pin A4.
Power Distribution: Red wire to 5V, Brown wire to GND for a common ground reference.

The Input System (Keypad) I used a numeric keypad to handle user input. This required mapping the keypad's matrix to the Arduino's digital pins.

Pinout: The keypad takes up 8 data lines, mapped from Digital Pin 2 through Pin 9. This allows the code to scan rows and columns to detect exactly which button is pressed.

The Logic (How it Works)

The software logic is what makes the hardware fun.

Initialization: Upon boot, the Arduino generates a random integer between 0 and 9.
Input Loop: The system waits for the user to press a key on the pad.
Comparison:
- If Correct: The Buzzer sounds a victory beep, and the LCD displays a success message.
- If Incorrect: The system prompts the user to try again.

TROUBLESHOOTING LOG:

Issue: Upon first boot, the LCD backlight turned on, but no text was visible—just blank blue light.
Diagnosis: The Contrast Potentiometer (the small screw on the back of the I2C module) was not calibrated.
The Fix: Using a small screwdriver, I adjus`il the characters became sharp and clear.
Resource: Special thanks to this Youtube Tutorial for guiding me through the adjustment process.

UNLOCK PHASE 2

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