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Animatronics for Halloween

    For Engineering Design Lab III, the team is tasked with creating an animatronic device for the Halloween Maze occurring in the Innovation Studio on October 2018. Our goal is to create a functioning animatronic for this event that will act as a haunted maze attraction and be triggered repeatedly without experiencing technical difficulties. If we succeed in creating it, our animatronic design has the opportunity to be featured in the Halloween Maze.

Constraints

    No project is without its constraints. For this module, the animatronic attraction must be suitable for children to view. Therefore, no blood, gore, or weapons are permitted. The Halloween Maze will not be entirely dark for safety reasons, so this must be kept in mind throughout the design and production process.

    On the technical side, each group is allowed to use standard 120V wall sockets, though its usage is limited to under 10 Amps of total draw. Batteries can also be used. The device must have all of its parts fabricated by the team, with the exception of the external coverings and internal electronic parts. It must also contain two DC motors and make use of audio and lighting features.

Two Approaches

   While completing this project, there are two design methods we can use. The first option is a detailed design, in which more work is required for the minute details. This method is preferable when working with the head of the animatronic. The second method is the large scale design, in which large motions are the main focus. This type of design is preferable for the body portion of the animatronic. Each of the requirements for these two design are listed below.

Detailed Design

• Complex moving features
• Complex programming/control system
• Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or equivalent control circuitry
• Sensor for activation
• CAD model
• Audio
• Lighting effects

Large Scale Design

• Movement of large limbs and masses
• Testing of DC motors to quantify force available to move a designated maximum load (show data)
• Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or equivalent control circuitry
• Sensor for activation
• CAD model
• Audio
• Lighting effects