B.U.G.S (Bugs Underground Gaming System)

With our project we wanted to create a wooden maze with 2 bug-shaped rc cars controlled with 2 controllers so people could have fun using it. One car is shaped like a spider and the other is a ladybug and the spider has to chase the ladybug inside the maze. We decided to make this project because we all like games and we thought this was an original and cool idea. We got to improve our skills with coding, creating circuits and woodworking. There is a time limit, and if the spider didn't catch the ladybug, the point goes to the ladybug, but if the ladybug gets caught, the point goes to the spider. The walls are not connected to the wooden floor and are interchangeble, so that every game the player can change the layout and play on a "new" maze.

STRUCTURE

wood

screws

metal pegs for wood

metal washer

L-brackets for wood

CAR CIRCUIT

1 esp 32 mini

jumpers

breadboard

H bridge

6 1.5 volt batteries

2 dc motors

magnets

copper sleeve

resistor of 330kΩ

CONTROLLER CIRCUIT

1 esp 32 mini

jumpers

breadboard

4.5 volt battery

switch

We started by making a cardboard model to see which measurements would be fine to make the maze big enough and chose to have a 1x1m maze.

We divided the floor into 4 25x25cm equal parts

using 4 wooden beams we cut a lot of walls 14cm long, 7 cm tall and with a depth of 0,5 cm. Than using a drill with a 5mm bit we cut 2 holes at the bottom of each wall distant each 3 cm from the edge. Than we used some pegs with a 4mm diameter and 1,5 cm long and we put one inside each hole.

We draw 14x14 cm squares and we made 2 holes in each side of the square distanced 6 cm from each other and 4 cm from the vertex of the square. We used a 5mm bit and we made every other hole big like two holes, so that the walls can fit even if the 2 pegs are not precise.

We cut a cardboard model to fit temporarely all the different components.

Using Onshape we made a 3D model of the ladybug, which is a 14x8,5cm ellipse(the hole inside is a 10x8cm ellipse). Using Tinkercad we made a 3D model of the spider which is 12x8,7 ellipse. Both are 6 cm tall. Also with Onshape we made 2 lids with the same measurements as the holes. Both on the bases of the spider and of the ladybug and on the 2 lids we made 4 little holes so we could put inside little magnets. We made it so that we could take the lid on and off whenever we want.

In the pictures the controlling pins that go in the H bridge might not be the same as the pins in the codes, check the pins in the beginning part of the codes and plug them in the H bridge.

In the second picture that weird black rectangle is a battery pack for 6 AAA batteryes, in order to supply 9 Volts

If you want you can use another battery pack and plug it in the same pins in the joysticks boards, although be sure to use just 3 AAA or AA batteryes because, not passing from the H bridge, 6 of them would provide too much energy.