"Penny Arcade" Pinball Machine
"Penny Arcade" Pinball Machine
Advanced Mechatronics I Final Project
Advanced Mechatronics I Final Project
November - December 2019
Embedded Files
Summary
Summary
I built a prototype pinball machine with foam core and a variety of electronics of breadboards. The servo-door holding the pinballs is set to close after a specified time and can be changed in the code. Three microcontrollers were used for the sake of modularity and simplicity (in both programming and troubleshooting).
I built a prototype pinball machine with foam core and a variety of electronics of breadboards. The servo-door holding the pinballs is set to close after a specified time and can be changed in the code. Three microcontrollers were used for the sake of modularity and simplicity (in both programming and troubleshooting).
Instructions Outlined by the Professor:
Instructions Outlined by the Professor:
- Goal
Produce a "penny arcade" style entertainment machine that will entertain and engage a customer/viewer/operator. Your machine may achieve this goal through any number of strategies, which might include ideas such as having an interactive gaming component, performing a set of interesting motions set to music, being a piece of interactive modern art, or implementing any other creative idea. If you've never been in an old-school penny arcade, look it up on the internet - these were pre-videogame arcades with things like skeeball, shooting galleries, memory and strength games, horseraces, pinball, etc.
Produce a "penny arcade" style entertainment machine that will entertain and engage a customer/viewer/operator. Your machine may achieve this goal through any number of strategies, which might include ideas such as having an interactive gaming component, performing a set of interesting motions set to music, being a piece of interactive modern art, or implementing any other creative idea. If you've never been in an old-school penny arcade, look it up on the internet - these were pre-videogame arcades with things like skeeball, shooting galleries, memory and strength games, horseraces, pinball, etc.
Your customer/viewer/operator will certainly include the instructor and fellow members of the Mech 207 class, but it will also include members of the Santa Clara University engineering community (who may know little about the underlying technology but who will want to be entertained and engaged) as part of a public display.
Your customer/viewer/operator will certainly include the instructor and fellow members of the Mech 207 class, but it will also include members of the Santa Clara University engineering community (who may know little about the underlying technology but who will want to be entertained and engaged) as part of a public display.
Your game machine cannot come from a kit.
Your game machine cannot come from a kit.
- Specifications
The complete machine must be capable of meeting all specifications. Deviations may be possible, but must be approved by the instructor - and none will be approved after Thanksgiving.
The complete machine must be capable of meeting all specifications. Deviations may be possible, but must be approved by the instructor - and none will be approved after Thanksgiving.
• Each student team will design and construct their own machine.
• Each student team will design and construct their own machine.
• The entire operation of the machine MUST take place in a space no more than 1.5 feet wide, 1.5 feet deep, and 2 feet tall.
• The entire operation of the machine MUST take place in a space no more than 1.5 feet wide, 1.5 feet deep, and 2 feet tall.
• Each machine must be a self-contained entity with the exception of power - you may plug into a power outlet.
• Each machine must be a self-contained entity with the exception of power - you may plug into a power outlet.
• Each machine will remain physically dormant (no physical motion, although you may have lights and sound to attract the attention of a possible player) until activated by the user through the act of depositing a penny through a clearly labeled slot. You should bring a supply of pennies, and ideally you should make this supply available to the operator through the aesthetically pleasing integration of the penny slot and a penny return reservoir with the rest of the device. Consider having deposited pennies automatically returned to the penny reservoir.
• Each machine will remain physically dormant (no physical motion, although you may have lights and sound to attract the attention of a possible player) until activated by the user through the act of depositing a penny through a clearly labeled slot. You should bring a supply of pennies, and ideally you should make this supply available to the operator through the aesthetically pleasing integration of the penny slot and a penny return reservoir with the rest of the device. Consider having deposited pennies automatically returned to the penny reservoir.
• Each machine will be clearly labeled with a title and with simple instruction as to how to initiate/play the game - a game that is so self-evident that it doesn't need instructions is even better! But - you must include them anyway.
• Each machine will be clearly labeled with a title and with simple instruction as to how to initiate/play the game - a game that is so self-evident that it doesn't need instructions is even better! But - you must include them anyway.
• Once triggered, the game should last for a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds; if the length of play is dictated by player skill, you may go longer, but it must timeout after 200 sec.
• Once triggered, the game should last for a minimum of 15 seconds and a maximum of 60 seconds; if the length of play is dictated by player skill, you may go longer, but it must timeout after 200 sec.
• The machine should complete its activity in such a way that it is ready to be used again - no 'reset' process should be required since these machines need to operate in an unattended manner.
• The machine should complete its activity in such a way that it is ready to be used again - no 'reset' process should be required since these machines need to operate in an unattended manner.
• No part of the machine may become ballistic outside the prescribed size envelope.
• No part of the machine may become ballistic outside the prescribed size envelope.
• If the machine contains any liquids, they may not be conductive or corrosive, and MUST be packaged in a fail-safe manner.
• If the machine contains any liquids, they may not be conductive or corrosive, and MUST be packaged in a fail-safe manner.
• The machine must be rugged enough to survive use by an audience for a post-class public play/display period of up to 6 hours (note that the public session may run from 9 am - 1 pm). This means that you must be able to demo your project in class and then turn it over for the public play/display period. During this period, the device must be able to survive being moved, repositioned, used, etc. A master on/off switch should be used to (de)activite the device when not being used vs being used, respectively.
• The machine must be rugged enough to survive use by an audience for a post-class public play/display period of up to 6 hours (note that the public session may run from 9 am - 1 pm). This means that you must be able to demo your project in class and then turn it over for the public play/display period. During this period, the device must be able to survive being moved, repositioned, used, etc. A master on/off switch should be used to (de)activite the device when not being used vs being used, respectively.
• The device should have at least TWO identifiable and isolated sensing stages (in addition to the coin input processing function), TWO identifiable and isolated actuation stages that produces macro-scale physical motion (e.g., it needs to be obvious; and physical motion implies something other than lights, sound, etc), and some identifiable functional controller (which can be very simple given the limited circuitry we've had so far in the class - so the 'control' function could essentially be something relating to timing, the execution of a certain sequence of actions, or the selection of components to actuate, etc.). It is not necessary to use a microcontroller to provide such functions although you are certainly welcome to do so.
• The device should have at least TWO identifiable and isolated sensing stages (in addition to the coin input processing function), TWO identifiable and isolated actuation stages that produces macro-scale physical motion (e.g., it needs to be obvious; and physical motion implies something other than lights, sound, etc), and some identifiable functional controller (which can be very simple given the limited circuitry we've had so far in the class - so the 'control' function could essentially be something relating to timing, the execution of a certain sequence of actions, or the selection of components to actuate, etc.). It is not necessary to use a microcontroller to provide such functions although you are certainly welcome to do so.
• The machine must demonstrate effective, appropriate, and integrated use of hardware and electronic elements (and possibly software if you so choose). This means that in addition to providing the necessary functionality, the quality and manner in which you design and implement this functionality will be considered when grading your project.
• The machine must demonstrate effective, appropriate, and integrated use of hardware and electronic elements (and possibly software if you so choose). This means that in addition to providing the necessary functionality, the quality and manner in which you design and implement this functionality will be considered when grading your project.
• While it is normally not a good practice, the finished circuitry may be constructed on your proto-board. This has been done to allow you the maximum time to spend on project functionality. However, note the ruggedness requirement, so be careful, and consider "hiding" any ugly and easily tampered-with circuitry in the bowels of your machine so that it is not immediately accessible to the public.
• While it is normally not a good practice, the finished circuitry may be constructed on your proto-board. This has been done to allow you the maximum time to spend on project functionality. However, note the ruggedness requirement, so be careful, and consider "hiding" any ugly and easily tampered-with circuitry in the bowels of your machine so that it is not immediately accessible to the public.
My Pinball Machine
My Pinball Machine
MECH207-Final Project-Paul Rogel.mov
Function
Function
1. User inserts a coin.
1. User inserts a coin.
2. Buzzer go off indicating the start of a new game and the servo moves 90 degrees, exposing several marbles. The score on the LCD screen is reset. The user’s 20 seconds of gameplay begins.
2. Buzzer go off indicating the start of a new game and the servo moves 90 degrees, exposing several marbles. The score on the LCD screen is reset. The user’s 20 seconds of gameplay begins.
3. The user takes out four marbles from the marble compartment and places one in front of the ball launcher.
3. The user takes out four marbles from the marble compartment and places one in front of the ball launcher.
4. The launcher button is pressed, propelling the marble into the play area.
4. The launcher button is pressed, propelling the marble into the play area.
5. The flipper buttons are located on the right and left sides of the machine and they are used to control the flippers and hit the marble around the play area.
5. The flipper buttons are located on the right and left sides of the machine and they are used to control the flippers and hit the marble around the play area.
6. When the marble passes between the either of the photoresistor/LED sensor pairs then the user is awarded one point and the score on the LCD screen is incremented by one.
6. When the marble passes between the either of the photoresistor/LED sensor pairs then the user is awarded one point and the score on the LCD screen is incremented by one.
7. If a marble goes past the flippers then it can be retrieved from the marble compartment.
7. If a marble goes past the flippers then it can be retrieved from the marble compartment.
8. Once the 20 seconds has elapsed a buzzer will sound indicating the end of the session and the servo will move to its original position, preventing the player from accessing any marbles that go past the flippers.
8. Once the 20 seconds has elapsed a buzzer will sound indicating the end of the session and the servo will move to its original position, preventing the player from accessing any marbles that go past the flippers.
9. The player can keep playing until he/she runs out of marbles and they have all been collected in the marble compartment.
9. The player can keep playing until he/she runs out of marbles and they have all been collected in the marble compartment.
Schematic of the pinball machine.
Schematic of the pinball machine.
Software flowchart for the coin sensor, buzzers, and servo motor.
Software flowchart for the coin sensor, buzzers, and servo motor.
Software flowchart for the LCD score counter.
Software flowchart for the LCD score counter.
Software flowchart for the photoresistor/LED sensors.
Software flowchart for the photoresistor/LED sensors.
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