Final project

Here's a sketch and description of my final project idea:

I've always enjoyed pinball games, but I want to create something a bit different—yet simple enough to complete during this course. The core concept of the game is straightforward: repeatedly shoot the ball into the correct targets. This project aligns well with a spiral development cycle, allowing me to first perfect the core functionality before adding features like lasers, smoke machines, and more. Before taking the device, I’ll leave it at the Fab Lab for a while to demonstrate what can be done there.

A "simulation" of how it should work, created in Fusion 360 during week 2:

A prototype of the score display from week 3:

A rough simulation of the embedded electronics for the score display from week 4:

A section of the 3D-printed net for the back of the playing field from week 5:

A render of the main PCB from week 6:

Testing the game mechanics during week 7:

First version of partially cnc-manufactured housing for the game during week 7:

PCB made during week 8:

Infrared optical gate for ping pong ball detection from week 9:

LED strip, OLED screen, and servo testing during Week 10:

Streaming real-time scores from the microcontroller to this web site. Demo during week 11:

System diagram from week 12:

Midterm schedule for doing remaining tasks:

Week number	Main task	Tasks for final project
12	Mechanical design & machine design	3D print bigger net Choose and order bigger OLED screen and button for the fan Test drone motor and 3D printed blades for ping pong ball flotation
13	Molding and casting	Design and make gears and mechanism for bat 3D print target loop Make better PCBs for the optogate
14	Interface and application programming	Program display and game logic Test bigger SPI OLED screen Use second MCU for target loop electronics Connect MicroSD to ESP32-C3
15	System integration	12 V USB-C powering for the drone motor
16	Wildcard week	Make enclosure for the whole game
17	Applications and implications, project development	3D print and paint player
18	Invention, intellectual property and income	Make video presentation of final project