Multi-Purpose LED Gameboard Timeline
A brief documentation of our building process over a span of 6 weeks
Project Brainstorm and Initial CAD
For the first week, we focused on our initial CAD models for our brainstormed game board model. We planned, proposed, and researched materials and electronics needed to complete this project based off the first models.
Planning and Designing
In week two, we continued to tweak the design of the CAD for greater functionality. The low-fidelity wireframe of the website was initially created on Figma and skeleton code for the games were also designed. We also started research on coding and implementing AI as well as ordered the electronics, such as the Arduino and wires.
Manufacturing and Coding Begins
For our third week, we began to code the games. Tic-Tac-Toe and Snake were the first games to be completed, and the skeleton code for Connect Four was drafted. Our initial idea of the scissor-lift mechanism was mocked up and we bought parts to test this mechanism. The purchased LEDs were also received and we started soldering the LEDs together on a mock grid. An additional Raspberry Pi was ordered for switching between games.
Website Development Starts, Coding and Manufacturing Continues
After the ideas for the mechanical and software portions were
solidified on week four, we began our high-fidelity mock-up of our
website and created skeleton code for the site, focusing on HTML
components.
We also met with design specialists after finishing our first
designs for the CAD models, making minor adjustments per their recommendations. We also
completed Connect Four and Battleship game designs and started
working on the AI for Tic-Tac-Toe and Connect Four.
Printing and AI Start, Website Development Continues
On the fifth week, we coded and finished our first design of the
website by incorporating a one-page static website. A
hamburger-style navigation bar and scrolling picture carousel was
implemented for each part of the project.
We also finalized the design of our board but ran into sizing issues
with the 3D-printing and CNC machines. We resized these models to be
able to print, but our process was delayed because of this setback.
Some parts of our game board were printed, however.
We started on the AI for Battleship and finished the AI for
Tic-Tac-Toe. Because the game trees and computational requirement
for Battleship and Connect Four are larger than that of Tic-Tac-Toe,
implementation was a challenge.
Finished Projects
For the sixth week, we ended up restarting our website from scratch,
moving away from the one-page layout in favor of a multi-page site.
The new final website, the website you are currently viewing,
includes a more aesthetic layout as well as more features and
information regarding our project.
We got
all of the game board parts printed and wood for the base CNC'd. The
Raspberry Pi for switching between games also arrived and we built a
custom GUI for the device.
We assembled the final game board with every part that was printed
and ordered.
