Week 18
AI prompt:
"now generate image when she started week 18..."
Applications and Implications
Overview
10
NFC Coins to collect
~$140
Total BOM cost
7
Custom PCBs milled
9+
Fab processes used
∞
Maze layouts (random)
What will it do?
CollectMaze is a tabletop robotic maze game built on a plywood board. The player controls a small custom-designed robot car using a custom-designed joystick PCB. The goal is to drive through a randomly generated maze and collect 10 NFC tags within a limited amount of time. I should also mention that with specially prepared cards, the player can rearrange the maze before each game according to the selected card layout. Every time the robot passes over an NFC tag, the onboard NFC reader (RC522) detects it, and the LCD screen on the joystick updates the collected count. If the player collects all NFC tags in time → WIN. Run out of time → GAME OVER.
COMPONENTS
Who's done what beforehand?
Examples of joystick-controlled cars exist in countless numbers, but what makes my project different is that the player needs to complete a specific task within a defined time period. Similar examples may already exist, but mostly in the virtual world, while I created both a physical version and a Unity game version. To make it even more unique (if you can already find an existing version of this :D), I also added Armenian elements. I engraved Armenian bird letters on the maze walls using a laser cutter with raster engraving. In the future, I would like to improve the idea so that instead of simply finding and collecting NFC tags, the game will present a puzzle, and based on the answer, the NFC tags will be hidden under those letters. I think this can become a very interesting, educational, and very Armenian-style game concept.
What sources will you use?
OpenSCAD docs · RP2040 datasheet · ESP32-C3 datasheet · MFRC522 NFC library · KiCad EDA · Arduino IDE · Unity engine · Blender · FabAcademy course materials (Weeks 1–17) · FabLab Dilijan inventory & instructors
What will you design?
| Item | Tool / Method | Week | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randomised labyrinth (parametric algorithm) | OpenSCAD | W2 | Done |
| Laser-cut 300mm test maze board | Laser cutter | W3 | Done |
| CNC-milled final playwood game board | CNC / Shopbot | W7 | Done |
| Robot car case design | Blender | w16 | Done |
| Main robot PCB (ESP32-C3 + NFC + motors + LCD) | KiCad → PCB mill | W6–8 | Done |
| Joystick design | Blender | w17 | Done |
| Joystick controller PCB | KiCad → PCB mill | W9 | Done |
| Unity game development for simulation | Unity Game Engine | W15 | Done |
Materials & Components — Bill of Materials
| # | Component | Purpose | Qty | Unit Cost | Total | Make / Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Plywood board 1000×1000mm | Game board base | 1 | $25.00 | $25.00 | Buy |
| 02 | ESP32-C3 microcontroller | Main logic | 2 | $12.00 | $24.00 | Fab PCB |
| 03 | OLED LCD | Display information | 1 | $3.00 | $3.00 | Buy |
| 04 | DC motor drivers (12GA-N20) | Robot movement | 2 | $10.00 | $20.00 | Fab PCB |
| 05 | LCD 1602 with I2C | Score & timer display | 1 | $2.50 | $2.50 | Buy |
| 06 | PETG filament | Car and joystick case | 1 | $13.00 | $13.00 | Fab PCB |
| 07 | Copper PCB blanks | Custom boards × 2 | 2 | $1.00 | $2.00 | Make |
| 08 | Misc. (resistors, caps, wire, connectors, NFC Reader, NFC tags, Voltage regulator, Motor Drivers, Buttons) | Electronics assembly | — | — | $5.00 | Lab stock |
| Total estimated cost | ~$95 | |||||
Graveyard Materials & Components — Bill of Materials
| # | Component | Purpose | Qty | Unit Cost | Total | Make / Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | RP2040 microcontroller | Main logic | 1 | $10.00 | $10.00 | Fab PCB |
| 02 | ESP32-C3 microcontroller | Main logic | 2 | $12.00 | $24.00 | Fab PCB |
| 03 | LCD 1602 with I2C | Score & timer display | 1 | $2.50 | $2.50 | Buy |
| 04 | PLA and PETG filament (small amt.) | Case printing | — | $1.00 | $1.00 | Make |
| 05 | Copper PCB blanks | Custom boards × 5 | 5 | $2.00 | $10.00 | Make |
| Total estimated cost | ~$47 | |||||
Fabrication costs (CNC time, laser cutter, PCB mill, 3D printing) are covered by FabLab Dilijan access and are not included in the BOM total.
Where will parts come from?
| Source | Items supplied |
|---|---|
| FabLab Dilijan inventory | Copper PCB blanks, PLA filament, MDF, resistors, caps, connectors |
| AliExpress / local suppliers | NFC tags, RC522 module, LCD, motor drivers, RP2040 |
| FabLab machines | CNC-milled board, laser-cut walls, milled PCBs, 3D-printed eyes |
What processes will be used?
2D Vector Design (OpenSCAD / Inkscape)
3D Modelling (OpenSCAD)
Laser Cutting (subtractive)
CNC Milling — game board (subtractive)
PCB Milling (subtractive)
FDM 3D Printing (additive)
Electronics Design (KiCad)
PCB Soldering & Assembly
Embedded Programming (Arduino IDE)
System Integration (joystick → robot → NFC → LCD)
What questions still need to be answered?
- To test Can the RP2040 PCB reliably read all 10 NFC tags without misreads at game speed?
- To calibrate Is motor speed / joystick sensitivity well-tuned for the maze corridor width?
- To verify Does the robot fit through all maze corridors without getting stuck?
- To playtest Is the time limit balanced — challenging but winnable for a first-time player?
How will it be evaluated?
The project succeeds when all of the following criteria are met:
- Robot is controllable via the custom joystick PCB
- All 10 NFC coin tags are correctly detected and counted on the LCD
- Timer counts down and correctly triggers Win or Game Over
- Game board uses both laser cutting and CNC milling
- PCB is custom-designed in KiCad and milled in-house
- System runs as a standalone unit — no laptop required during play
- A first-time visitor can understand and play the game within 1 minute
Week 18 brought the full picture of the CollectMaze project into focus. Mapping out every material, process, and open question showed how much has already been built across the semester — and exactly what still needs to land before the final presentation.
The total BOM sits at around $140 for purchased parts, with nearly everything else fabricated in-house. The randomised maze, custom PCBs, 3D-printed robot eyes, and joystick controller are all done. What remains is finalising the Unity overlay, tuning the motor control, and playtesting the time balance.
The project integrates 2D and 3D design, additive and subtractive fabrication, custom electronics, embedded programming, and system integration — a full tour of Fab Academy skills in a single playable game.
AI prompt:
"And Generate image when she finished Week 18"