ClusterPuck v1.0

After many crazy brainstorming sessions we have agreed on a basic plan involving a transparent table surface with modular "smart" game elements and a puck return system.

With this setup we can have several game modes

• Classic airhockey
• "Spell the word"- collect the needed letters before your opponent does (or co-op mode)
• "Pinball mode" - introduce gravity wells, deflection zones and puck mines.
• "Capture the flag" - get the puck to hit the flag that is bouncing from zone to zone
• ...
• The number of things you can do with these smartcoins is near infinite- add ideas as you come up with them...

Project management

So as not to spam the GGroup with Pucktalk, we will be using the [forum] to discuss the project. This wiki will be used to maintain a "state of the plan" and provide overview. Periodic updates will be posted to the [Google Group] to keep people informed, gain insight and recruit more people to join the effort.

Here's how we're talking about doing it: Ye Olde Divide And Conquer. We'll split it all up into modular efforts. There'll be less need to gather all interested parties on the same day and the same time. And by working on it as modules we'll be even more likely end up with a product that has modular upgradability and hackability.

Aim is to have a working version ready by: ?Makerfaire?

The Table

Adan has agreed to lead the charge with the table/surface/plenum structure design and fabrication. The plan is to have a holes at half inch pitch (hcp). There are some ideas to support the surface on the plenum with a pillar array that sits between the half inch pitch of the surface.

Air Suppy/Control

Laz and Dr. Strangegun are looking for the right fan for the job.

Update: Strangegun has supplied a 650cfm 10" automotive cooling fan. Testing showed an initial 5.5A (12v) starting requirement that rapidly falls off. A PWM circuit hooked to an air meter (sprung flap on a potentiometer) may be the easiest method of control.

Smartcoin Subsurface Interactive Display Elements (SSIDE?)

Issac has proposed a fastastically cool module that is extremely versatile and can lead to many different types of gameplay. It consists of LED matrix display surrounded by an electromagnet to be added in modular fashion through the bottom of the plenum chamber. These can show which "powerup" is currently active: display letters, points, gravity wells, deflection zone or puck mines; as well as interact with the pucks via the electromagnet (sensing and deflectign).

Pucks and Mallets

The Problem

To have the table be able to make the best possible use of the game elements one problem exists. For the powerups to be collected, pucks need to be related to which mallet struck it last. Currently the thought on how best to do this is have the puck know which mallet struck it last and communicate this to the powerup it hits via IR. The communication aspect can probably be taken care of with IR communication, telling the puck who hit it seems to be the major challenge

The puck will need to contain:

1. An embedded magnet
2. The ability to know which mallet struck it last
3. The ability to communicate to the ClusterPuck brains which mallet struck it last
4. The ability to communicate to the ClusterPuck players which mallet struck it last
5. The ability to charge while the puck is in the return chute

Proposed solutions

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3D printed puck with KnoxMakers logo and embedded magnet

1. Pucks will be 3D printed and Adan has already demonstrated that embedding a magnet can be easily achieved.
2. IR LED in the puck, sensors in the SSIDE
3. No freakin' Idea
4. Assign players a colour and use LEDs
5. Several solution possible, design will have to wait till puck design is further along but likely to be with contact rings so pucks can be stacked.
6. Double contact rings on the puck with matching rings on the mallet. One mallet is wired with the top ring as the positive, the other wired with the bottom ring positive.
7. Low power radio transmitters or oscillators in the mallets, two differing frequencies with a contact ring as the antenna. Receiver in the puck with the antenna in it's contact ring, so direct contact with a mallet provides a large signal spike, of which the circuit in the puck can discriminate between frequencies and do whatever else it should.

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The Puck Return

The planned puck return consists of a way for the pucks to be collected to a central location under the table, a chute to bring them to the surface, charge the electronics and then fire back onto the table in a random direction.

Da Brains

What the brain requirements are will become clearer as the project develops.