Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | Design of a Mechatronic Physical Road-Crossing Game System |
Tianxi Zhu Yuxuan Liu Zhuo Li Zihao Wu |
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| # Problem Most games today exist only in digital environments such as computers or mobile devices. While these games are entertaining, they do not demonstrate how mechanical systems, electronic circuits, sensors, and control systems interact in real physical systems. For students studying mechatronics and embedded systems, building a physical interactive system provides a better understanding of how hardware and control systems work together. The challenge is to design a system that coordinates multiple moving vehicles, detects collisions, and responds to player inputs while maintaining stable operation. The system should also be mechanically simple and reliable enough to operate repeatedly during demonstrations. To address this challenge, we propose a physical road-crossing game system in which a player-controlled vehicle attempts to cross a simulated road while avoiding moving traffic vehicles. # Solution Overview The proposed system is a physical game platform that integrates mechanical structures, electronic circuits, sensors, and a microcontroller control system. The platform represents a road environment. Several traffic vehicles move across the road along fixed tracks using motor-driven mechanisms. These vehicles simulate moving traffic and act as obstacles. The player controls a small vehicle that attempts to cross the road from a starting position to a goal area. During the game, sensors monitor the positions of vehicles and detect collisions. If the player vehicle collides with a traffic vehicle, the system registers a failure condition. If the player reaches the goal safely, the system registers a successful crossing. A microcontroller coordinates all system operations including motor control, sensor monitoring, and game logic. # Solution Components The system is composed of several subsystems that together implement the road-crossing game. ## Subsystem I: Player Vehicle Control - **Hardware I.a – Motor Drive** A DC motor or servo motor drives the movement of the player vehicle. - **Hardware I.b – User Input Interface** Buttons or simple control inputs allow the player to control the vehicle. ## Subsystem II: Traffic Vehicle Motion - **Hardware II.a – Motorized Traffic Vehicles** Multiple vehicles move along fixed tracks across the road using DC motors. - **Hardware II.b – Mechanical Track Structure** A rail or track guides the motion of the traffic vehicles. ## Subsystem III: Collision Detection - **Hardware III.a – Collision Sensors** Sensors such as infrared sensors or contact switches detect collisions between vehicles. ## Subsystem IV: System Control - **Hardware IV.a – Microcontroller Controller** A microcontroller manages motor control, sensor input, and overall game logic. # Criterion for Success - Traffic vehicles move smoothly along their tracks in at least **8 out of 10 trials** without mechanical failure. - The player vehicle responds correctly to user inputs and can cross the road. - The collision detection system correctly detects collisions between vehicles. - The system correctly determines game success or failure. - All mechanical, electronic, and control subsystems operate together as a complete mechatronic system. |
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