BINGO! Automata Design and Simulation(s) (MAJOR-Project ENGR 1025U)
Manually operated gear-and-chain-driven game inspired by carnival shooting ranges.
Mission Statement & Product Description
The shooting gallery features two moving horses and three independently moving targets, controlled by a gear and chain system. The horses act as timers, while players aim to hit all three targets to win. The product emphasizes affordability, environmental responsibility, and engaging design.
Target Audience
The primary market includes carnivals and amusement parks, while secondary markets span toy brands (e.g., Nerf, Airsoft), paintball ranges, and training environments. The product is designed to be intuitive and appealing for both children and adults.
Customer Needs Assessment & Specifications
Concept Designs
The team developed five design concepts, such as airplane, steam train, shooting gallery, music box, and horse, each exploring different forms of motion and interactivity. The sketches provided visual ideas for how users would interact with the mechanical systems.
Design Concept #1 - Airplane
Design Concept #2 - Steam Train
Design Concept #3 - Shooting Gallery
Design Concept #4 - Musical Box
Design Concept #5 - Horse
Customer Needs Assessment & Specifications
The final design is a hybrid of the shooting gallery and horse timer concepts. This combination was chosen for its simplicity, functionality, and alignment with user needs, leading to a more market-ready prototype.
Final Design Description
The finalized design features a rectangular base that houses the internal mechanisms, including three vertically moving targets and a horse figure serving as a countdown timer. All movements are driven by a user-operated crank connected to a central shaft.
Cost, Manufacturing & Sustainability
Manufacturing is estimated at $30 using biodegradable PLA and 3D printing. PLA offers a lower carbon footprint, ensuring the device is both cost-efficient and eco-friendly. Mass production could further reduce environmental impact.
Human Factors, Safety, and Environmental Impact
The base design provides structural safety, while PLA ensures the product is safe for children. The environmental focus centers on biodegradability and the efficiency of additive manufacturing, aligning the project with sustainable design principles.
Gantt
Chart
Conclusion
The group successfully developed an engaging, low-cost, environmentally responsible automata shooting gallery. The project blended creativity with mechanical design, emphasizing simplicity, safety, and sustainability.