Week 9: Control Box and Small Modifications

Primarily, this week focused on developing the final report. However, more progress was also made on the project.

Small changes were made, like drilling holes into the frame for speakers and affixing a door to the back of the frame. This door is a simple piece of backboard which can swing open and close on hinges. Featuring a deadbolt, it allows for access to the inner workings of the final product while still keeping all components within the frame. Handles were screwed into the frame to allow for easier transportation of the entire product. Minor tweaks in programming occurred to continue accurate communication with the modified electrical system. Finally, as another jumper mechanism is being printed out, the current mechanism was fine-tuned by sanding down pieces of it for smoother backboard movement, and gluing small metal brackets to help guide the jump movement.

Additionally, a control box was designed and constructed. This was a relatively simple task. Using scrap wood, a small, handheld box was built with slots into which the push buttons were embedded. This allows users a contained and visually-appealing method of controlling the player figure.

As the jumper mechanism was modified, the lift mechanism was changed as well to reflect these modifications. In order for the jumper mechanism to travel along the length of the lift mechanism to move the player figure in the direction of the x-axis, the jumper mechanism must fit inside an upside-down T-shaped slot. Initially, the plan was to route this into the lift mechanism, but it became clear that this would be difficult to physically accomplish with the given tools. In place of this, two L-shaped brackets were glued to the lift mechanism to create the desired T-shape. An image of this can be seen below.

The jumper mechanism will move underneath these brackets