Trace It

Trace It is a hands on target practice toy, utilizing two motors and an infrared gun

What?

Trace It is a children’s target practice toy with a moving target and an infrared (IR) gun. Users have 60 seconds to shoot the target as many times as possible, earning points with each hit. Following each hit, the target relocates randomly to challenge the player. At the end of each round, the score is displayed. Trace It encourages competition and challenges hand-eye coordination for ages 8 to 12.

This toy has six primary functions:

Shooting IR light
Detecting successful target hits
Relocating the target randomly on a vertical plane
Rotating the IR gun within the target area
Displaying game information
Powering the toy on or off

How?

Constraints and criteria of the toy's functionality were identified in detail
- Constraints:
  - Toy must have a gun that shoots IR light
  - Signal to the Arduino 1 second after detecting a hit
  - Move at a speed of 8 cm/s
  - Restrict gun motion rotationally
  - Display player score 1 second after each round
  - Include a physical power switch
  - Cost under $50 for prototyping
- Criteria:
  - Maximizing sensor detection
  - Minimizing excessive target movement
  - Minimizing resistance of the rotating gun
  - Minimizing the time LEDs flash after a successful hit and after the round ends
Solutions were developed and implemented based on time, resources, cost, functionality, and safety
I coded the game using Arduino IDE. This consisted of making the randomized movement, the hit detection, the game start and end, along with the score system
Ensured all mechanical functions performed as expected
3D printed motor mounts and manufactured the rails on the milling machine
Performed simulations confirming a safety factor greater than 2
Fully made a SolidWorks assembly to ensure part compatibility and tolerances

Results

Trace It is a fully functional prototype with an IR gun and movement system that can run 60 second rounds
- The target can move at an average speed of 8 cm/s
- Each successful hit triggers the Arduino within 1 second.
- The gun’s movement restriction is functional
- Toy is equipped with a power switch
Within one month, we proved the mechanical viability of Trace It by demonstrating its ability to run continuous 60-second rounds without any errors
Components designed in SolidWorks were structurally sound
Developed a comprehensive mechanical viability report that combined technical writing and clear engineering communication, ensuring the results were both thorough and easily understood by stakeholders