Project Background
Welcome to Catagonia, planet of cats, and bidder for the intragalactic Olympic Games of the 4095th Olympiad in the year 21800!
The CATstronauts team was tasked with creating an Automated Representation of Kulture (ARK) to showcase our world, the planet of Catagonia, to the rest of the galaxy. This ARK is an electro-mechanical display that can be interacted with to reveal various aspects of our planet.
The CATstronauts team was tasked with creating an Automated Representation of Kulture (ARK) to showcase our world, the planet of Catagonia, to the rest of the galaxy. This ARK is an electro-mechanical display that can be interacted with to reveal various aspects of our planet.
ARK Functionality
Control panel layout with ALIEN interaction states labelled
Welcome State
In its welcome state, when no ALIEN is interacting with the ARK, a series of green LEDs flashes sequentially in an upwards direction to indicate to the ALIEN to flick the red switch upwards. When this switch is flicked upwards, the rocket that keeps track of time is launched and the next interaction is enabled.
Terraforming State
The next interaction is to turn an analog knob. The orange LED above the knob starts flashing to indicate to the ALIEN to interact with it. When the knob is turned, a servo motor turns a corresponding amount and raises or lowers a platform with dowels that deforms a stretchable fabric above it. This step allows the ALIEN to adjust the height of the mountains of Catagonia.
Pop-Up State
Once the ALIEN has turned the knob, the first pop-up button begins to flash, indicating to the ALIEN to press it. After pressing the flashing button, the corresponding pop-up moves upwards, and the next pop-up button begins to flash.
Torch State
Once all pop-up buttons are pressed, two orange LEDs begin to flash - one located at the prop torch and the other located at the Olympic flame. If an ALIEN successfully brings the prop torch up to the Olympic flame to light it, the ARK begins its celebration routine! Two small yellow LEDs located behind the flame and a fan turn on, giving color and motion to it, simulating an actual flame. A coin motor embedded within the torch begins vibrating, giving an ALIEN haptic feedback of the torch lighting. Finally, LEDs across the ARK begin to flash on and off.
Resetting
After either 30s of inactivity or after the celebration routine is complete, the device resets itself. The popups go back down, the terraforming section resets to its initial position, the haptic motor and fan turn off, the rocket returns to its original position, and the green LEDs begin to flash sequentially while all other LEDs on the ARK turn off.
In its welcome state, when no ALIEN is interacting with the ARK, a series of green LEDs flashes sequentially in an upwards direction to indicate to the ALIEN to flick the red switch upwards. When this switch is flicked upwards, the rocket that keeps track of time is launched and the next interaction is enabled.
Terraforming State
The next interaction is to turn an analog knob. The orange LED above the knob starts flashing to indicate to the ALIEN to interact with it. When the knob is turned, a servo motor turns a corresponding amount and raises or lowers a platform with dowels that deforms a stretchable fabric above it. This step allows the ALIEN to adjust the height of the mountains of Catagonia.
Pop-Up State
Once the ALIEN has turned the knob, the first pop-up button begins to flash, indicating to the ALIEN to press it. After pressing the flashing button, the corresponding pop-up moves upwards, and the next pop-up button begins to flash.
Torch State
Once all pop-up buttons are pressed, two orange LEDs begin to flash - one located at the prop torch and the other located at the Olympic flame. If an ALIEN successfully brings the prop torch up to the Olympic flame to light it, the ARK begins its celebration routine! Two small yellow LEDs located behind the flame and a fan turn on, giving color and motion to it, simulating an actual flame. A coin motor embedded within the torch begins vibrating, giving an ALIEN haptic feedback of the torch lighting. Finally, LEDs across the ARK begin to flash on and off.
Resetting
After either 30s of inactivity or after the celebration routine is complete, the device resets itself. The popups go back down, the terraforming section resets to its initial position, the haptic motor and fan turn off, the rocket returns to its original position, and the green LEDs begin to flash sequentially while all other LEDs on the ARK turn off.