18. Applications and Implications, Project Development

This week is about creating the plan for my final project and difining the scope and tracking the progress of my project. I will also be working on the final project and documenting the progress.

What will it do?

My project is wifi enabled interactive game board that allows players to develop their own games of chance, strategy, memory, tivia, or story telling. By using the webapp, players define the outcomes pressing the glowing tiles on the board. this acts as an input. The app can also control the kinds of messages displayed on the LED matrix in the center of the board.

Who has done what beforehand?

While developing this project I learned that many people have made macropads. It is a subcategory of a mechanical keyboard and can be customized to do many things. This completely new to me, but I have done the fabrication processes before.

What sources will you use?

I will use youtube tutorials, online forums, and AI tools to guide me.

What will you design

I will design a game board using Rhno 8 for the hardware, KiCad for the PCB, Adobe Illustrator for the graphics, Arduino IDE for the firmware and VS code for the HTML apps

What materials and components will be used?

Qty	Description	Price	Link
1	RGBW LEDS	$20.99	LED
1	Seeed Xiao ESP32C3	$9.99	Xiao ESP32C3
1	LED Matrix	$12.99	Matrix
1	USB-C Cables	$9.99	USB-C Cables
1	Keyboard switches	$27.90	Keyboard switches
1	USB-C Power Supply	$12.99	Power Supply
1	Surface Mounted Diodes	$7.99	SMD
1	PLA Matte Filament	$10.99	Filament
1	Milky White 1/8" Acrylic Sheets	$17.99	Acrylic
1	Antenna	$9.99	Antenna
1	18 Gauge Wire	$23.75	Wire
1	Hex Screws	$21.99	Screw
1	12"x12" Basswood 1/8" Sheets	$37.99	Wood
1	Threaded inserts	$8.99	Threaded inserts

Where will they come from?

Amazon, and the Bambu Lab website.

How much will they cost?

The estimated material cost is $234.53

What parts and systems will be made?

The enclosure, PCB, switch cap, player tiles, and display will all be made.

What processes will be used?

I will used 3D printing, laser cutting, PCB milling, soldering, and programming.

What questions need to be answered?

How much can I feasibly accomplish? What skills do I need to develop for this project? How can I make the LEDS, matrix, and switches function? What is the player experience going to be? How can this be developed further?

How will it be evaluated?

It will be evaluated based on meeting the final project requirements, effectiveness of the project and overall completeness.

Project Plan View full details →

Task list and timeline for the Magic 8 project.