16 - plan my final project
interactive pinball
As I predicted, I will design an interactive game based primarily on the pinball machine; So besides the originals controls you can have sensors in order to get more point and interact with the ball. Of course I wouldn't be able to make a big pinball full of lights and effects, but I'm studying in order to understand how it works and take those parts that I can use for my projects.
Although is an ambitious projects, doing a little research I found several people who ventured into the world of pinball, including:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_bSWFrsbEM
http://www.instructables.com/id/Pinball/
http://blog.makezine.com/2013/01/16/raspberry-pi-powered-pinball-machine/
http://idm-lab.org/project-n.html
that can inspire me.
Furthermore, contacting several blogs it was recommended to me to take some components for my pinball in websites like these:
http://www.foramusementonly.to/
http://www.pbresource.com/cabparts.html
Very soon I will be able to say roughly the cost of my project.
My intent is to first build the mechanical parts(and probably I have to face the world of the coils) and sensors and try to get them to communicate with each other, then proceed with the study of light effects and sounds(matrix LED or LCD screen for the points info, lights group, sounds effects, voice clips, and music tracks).
As a last thing I will keep the most "fun", ie the design of my game and the whole structure that will surely be based also on the dimensions of the various components.
Probably I will work with solid works(unfortunatelly tinkercad there will be no more), in order to design the small details and the buttons for the 3d printer(so ABS and PLA); the frame's files for the shopbot and the game field's file for the laser cutter (acrylic and plywood). Furthermore I will be using both the software Arduino and Processing to program the sensors that will communicate with the various mechanical elements, sensors,lights and sounds. -input and output devices-
In order to clarify:
What parts and system will be made?
The game field, the buttons, the ball, all the sensors, the controls, all of the lights(a group for the light effects and a matrix for the score messages), the speakers for the sound effects and I'd like to try to make a bumper\kicker by myself.
What task need to be completed?
1) design and test the mechanical parts.
2) design and test the sensor; Design the way the way they can communicate with the mechanical parts.
3) add the sounds effects to the sensors.
4) design the first part of the lights, connected to the sensors and program them.
5) make the frame and the game field.
options:
_add a memory for the scores and a matrix LED to scroll through the message and the scores,
_add a voice clip
_add a music track
_add a cmos sensor for pictures and a memory.
what questions need to be answered?
...how to make my interactive pinball? (it's a great challenge)
What is the schedule?
In one week (22 fo may) I want to do: 1) , 2) and half of 5)
In two weeks I wish to finish (29 of may) : 3) , 4) and finish 5) -> make my project work and play a game!
How it will be evaluated?
Don not depend on me, I just know that I'll put my best in order to finish it and make it working.
