GMU:Sensor Hacklab/Maike Effenberg

From Medien Wiki

STAR DUST

pinball
work-in-progress !!!
 

The idea is to build a small pinball machine that works with different sensors and a lot of mechanical components. Inspired by classical pinball machines I'll use Buttons, motion sensors, electro magnets, aswell as self created sensors made out of alu foil and wire. Most of the sensors will trigger light (LED's and maybe RGB LED Strips) and sound (via piezo speaker).

Since this is my first DIY electronics project ever I think the pinball machine is a good way to combine different sensors in one project. It is always possible to add some new features to it or to leave something out without letting the hole project die. Also, I like the interactive aspect of the project and personal I realate some very good family memories with pinball machines that motivate me to create this game.

To run this machine it's necessary to build a few machanical parts such as the pinball fingers and the pluger. (mechanical parts)

If you have no idea what a pinball machine is about have a look here --> DEUTSCH or here -->ENGLISH

prototyps

There were several tests/prototypes
Buttons
Motion Sensor that plays different sounds depending on the distance to it
a switch that lights up a LED
Buttons that light up a LED strip in different colors
a switch that lights up a LED strip with fading colors
a switch that triggers a piezo speaker to play random sound (sounds pretty spacey)
a switch that triggers a piezo speaker to play a melody

 

sketches

DESIGN

Theme of the pinball game is star dust
The ball is a comet that is going to hit the earth. But you have the chance to save the planet by playing the game and activate the S-P-A-C-E-Y letters. But watch out for some evil aliens who want to extinguish all human beings!
     

DETAILS

First sketches show how sensors could be used for a pinball machine.
 

A motion sensor will be used to trigger a game over melody when the ball is lost. Look also at design sketch 3!
 

Main project is to build a BUMPER with an elcetro magnet that will move the tower.
     

mechanical parts

Some of the most importent parts of the pinball machine will be build by myself without electronics. There will be more pictures and also a material list.
 


TO BE CONTINUED ...