For this project, we were tasked with designing and building an arcade-style game that required both mechanical and electronic integration. I decided to create a tiltable marble maze, where players control the tilt of the board using an accelerometer sensor. The maze would respond to the player's movements in real time, making it an interactive and engaging game. To bring this idea to life, I used 3D printing for the maze structure, laser-cut acrylic for the base, and an Arduino system for control.

The goal was to create a fun but challenging experience while learning how to integrate sensors, servos, and real-time control systems into a working product. I focused on precise movement control and designed the mechanics to be smooth and responsive, ensuring that the game felt intuitive to play.

Mechanical Design and Fabrication

One of the key challenges was figuring out how to mount the servos onto the wooden structure while ensuring they had enough strength to tilt the board. Initially, I struggled with alignment issues—the servos weren’t placed perfectly in the center, causing uneven tilting and slipping. To solve this, I reinforced the structure with custom mounts and additional supports, ensuring the servos could operate smoothly.

Another feature I added was trapdoors at the bottom of the maze that could open when a button was pressed, allowing for additional gameplay mechanics. Getting these trapdoors to function correctly required precise mounting and calibration, as they had to remain flush with the board when closed but open easily when triggered. This was a rewarding challenge that pushed my understanding of mechanical linkages and actuation.

Electronics and Software Development

The control system was powered by an Arduino, which processed input from the accelerometer sensor to determine the maze's tilt angle. The biggest challenge in coding was ensuring smooth and real-time responsiveness, as any delay would ruin the user experience. The servo movements needed to be precise and proportional to the player's input, requiring careful calibration of sensor values and servo actuation.

Additionally, I implemented a timer system to create a challenge for players—the game would automatically end when time ran out. To avoid communication delays, I used two Arduinos running in parallel, with one dedicated to movement control and the other handling the timer and trapdoor mechanisms. This prevented lag and ensured the game operated smoothly.

Challenges and Final Results

Integrating mechanical components with electronics proved to be more difficult than expected. While the servos worked in theory, real-world factors like friction, weight distribution, and power draw required continuous adjustments. Aligning the maze’s center of gravity so it moved evenly took multiple iterations, as small miscalculations caused unwanted tilting.

Despite the challenges, the final product was a success. At the project expo, people enjoyed playing the game, and seeing them interact with something I built was incredibly rewarding. This project taught me a lot about mechatronics, real-time system control, and designing interactive experiences. It reinforced my interest in creating engaging mechanical systems with embedded electronics, and I’m excited to apply these skills to future projects.