Mechanical Design
The design of the simulator is inspired by arcade style gaming consoles. There are three main sections. Section 1 is the platform which houses all the electronic circuitry, TOT sensing mechanism, and IR LEDs. It also provides the mounting support for the rest of the components. Section 2 is the deck with the gameplay display, HP bar controller, and IR phototransistors. Section 3 is the back housing which contains the timer and HP dial attached to separate servos to indicate passage of play and remaining life of the alien. The region between the platform and the deck has the IR sensing module, which the player interacts with to fight the alien. The structural parts are made from approximately 0.22 inch thick Duron sheets.
Section 1: Platform
**All drawing dimensions are in millimeters. Thickness of part (if not specified) is equal to 5.59 mm (0.22 in).
The platform provides the structural support for the game module, electronic circuitry housing, TIVA, and power supply. It also contains the dodge buttons, TOT sensing module, headphone jack, and IR LED modules.
The three red circles with counterbore contain IR LEDs at the center with 4 surrounding blue LEDs. The IR LEDs are placed within the counterbore to provide additional protection from noise due to ambient light sources.
The slot between the two red circles on the top panel is where the player inserts the TOT. Once the TOT is inserted, the TOT slides over a curved surface (see TOT Ramp) which is sandwiched between two panels (see TOT Ramp Side Panel) and constrains the TOT within the channel formed by the ramp and side panels. A servo controlled gate is placed along the ramp which when closed helps retain the TOT. Once the game is over, the the servo controlled gate releases the TOT, which rolls out from the blue slot shown on the front panel.
The right side panel contains a circular cutout for dodge button. There is a similar cutout on the left panel (not shown). The yellow slot on the front panel is for the headphone jack.
The platform's overall dimensions are 18 x 18 x 5.9 inches, which was designed to consider the size of the electrical circuitry that needs to fit within the space, the design restrictions for the project, and the manufacturing constraints due to the maximum size allowed by the laser cutter.
The three red circles with counterbore contain IR LEDs at the center with 4 surrounding blue LEDs. The IR LEDs are placed within the counterbore to provide additional protection from noise due to ambient light sources.
The slot between the two red circles on the top panel is where the player inserts the TOT. Once the TOT is inserted, the TOT slides over a curved surface (see TOT Ramp) which is sandwiched between two panels (see TOT Ramp Side Panel) and constrains the TOT within the channel formed by the ramp and side panels. A servo controlled gate is placed along the ramp which when closed helps retain the TOT. Once the game is over, the the servo controlled gate releases the TOT, which rolls out from the blue slot shown on the front panel.
The right side panel contains a circular cutout for dodge button. There is a similar cutout on the left panel (not shown). The yellow slot on the front panel is for the headphone jack.
The platform's overall dimensions are 18 x 18 x 5.9 inches, which was designed to consider the size of the electrical circuitry that needs to fit within the space, the design restrictions for the project, and the manufacturing constraints due to the maximum size allowed by the laser cutter.
Section 2: Deck
The deck is formed by two panels supported by L-shaped supports (see Deck Support). It houses IR Phototransistors, the slider potentiometer, and the gameplay display (alien model, towers, Rick and Morty figurines).
IR Phototransistors are placed in a housing which fits inside slots on the bottom panel. The slots are positioned such that when fully assembled with the platform, the IR Phototransistors and IR LEDs are directly in line.
The top panel contains a slot for a slider potentiometer which controls the HP bar by converting the voltage output from the potentiometer to the HP bar servo motor position (see electrical and software sections for more details). It also has cutouts to place the towers and the alien.
The towers are designed to house RGB LED strips and are positioned such that when the LEDs are flashing, the light beams on the alien. The gap between the two panels are used to run electrical wiring for the IR Phototransistors, RGB LEDs, and potentiometer.
The deck is designed to be 135 mm (5.3 inches) above the platform to give ample space for the player to insert their hand during gameplay.
IR Phototransistors are placed in a housing which fits inside slots on the bottom panel. The slots are positioned such that when fully assembled with the platform, the IR Phototransistors and IR LEDs are directly in line.
The top panel contains a slot for a slider potentiometer which controls the HP bar by converting the voltage output from the potentiometer to the HP bar servo motor position (see electrical and software sections for more details). It also has cutouts to place the towers and the alien.
The towers are designed to house RGB LED strips and are positioned such that when the LEDs are flashing, the light beams on the alien. The gap between the two panels are used to run electrical wiring for the IR Phototransistors, RGB LEDs, and potentiometer.
The deck is designed to be 135 mm (5.3 inches) above the platform to give ample space for the player to insert their hand during gameplay.
Section 3: Back Housing
The back housing contains the HP bar and alien cutouts attached to two separate servos. It also contains clear LEDs which shine through the holes on the front panel for visual effects.
The semicircular slot on the front panel contains the HP bar which is attached to a servo motor. The servo is initially set by the player using the slider potentiometer located on the deck. As the game progresses, the servo position changes depending on whether the player was able to successfully hit the alien or not. Successful hits decrement the red HP bar while incorrect attacks increment the HP bar.
At the start of the game, the alien is positioned approximately under the leftmost edge of the semicircular slot. A Morty cutout is fixed under the rightmost edge of the slot. The timer servo position changes after every second during gameplay. The alien gradually approaches Morty until the alien is defeated (player wins) or the alien successfully reaches Morty after 60 seconds (player loses).
The semicircular slot on the front panel contains the HP bar which is attached to a servo motor. The servo is initially set by the player using the slider potentiometer located on the deck. As the game progresses, the servo position changes depending on whether the player was able to successfully hit the alien or not. Successful hits decrement the red HP bar while incorrect attacks increment the HP bar.
At the start of the game, the alien is positioned approximately under the leftmost edge of the semicircular slot. A Morty cutout is fixed under the rightmost edge of the slot. The timer servo position changes after every second during gameplay. The alien gradually approaches Morty until the alien is defeated (player wins) or the alien successfully reaches Morty after 60 seconds (player loses).