Project Description
Mechanical Engineering 218C is the third class in the ME218 sequence, a graduate-level mechatronics design course at Stanford University. As the capstone project for the course, student teams are asked to design and build a wirelessly-controlled hovercraft ('LOBBYIST') and a controller ('PAC'), communicating over a XBee radio link using a student-defined communications protocol.
At the conclusion of the project, student teams compete using their hovercraft and controllers in an epic toe-to-toe battle of brawn, skill, wits, and... well, okay, mostly dumb luck.
At the conclusion of the project, student teams compete using their hovercraft and controllers in an epic toe-to-toe battle of brawn, skill, wits, and... well, okay, mostly dumb luck.
Basic Game Play:A game round will be a competition between two special interest groups (Red & Blue) of 3 Political Artillery Controller (PACs) each, and four free agent Loyal Only By BriberY Influence Spreading Technology (LOBBYISTs).
Groups of LOBBYISTs will operate in the Political Arena at the end of the Atrium in Building 550. During rounds of the game the two groups of PACs, through their LOBBYISTs, will attempt to herd the lawmakers through the appropriate door and thereby pass the most important legislation of our day. The goal of the game is to convince members of CONGRESS to vote for your special interest by entering one of the two marked revolving doors. The game will continue until 218 seconds have passed or all members of CONGRESS have voted (German Style, by passing through one of the revolving doors). Game Details:Upon power-up or in the event of a loss of communication with its current PAC, the LOBBYIST activates its electromechanical indication that it is searching for a controlling interest, deactivates its lift fan and waits for a request for control from a PAC.
The operator of a PAC that wishes to control a particular LOBBYIST must select that LOBBYIST (1- 4) using the PAC and make a unique control action to initiate taking control of the LOBBYIST. This action results in the PAC sending a message to the LOBBYIST requesting control of the LOBBYIST. The details of the request process is defined in the class-wide communications protocol. The details of communication protocol is listed in the software section. The LOBBYIST responds to the first received request for control by sending a message back to the requesting PAC confirming receipt. At this time, the LOBBYIST also deactivates its electromechanical indication of searching for a controller. After completing this process, the LOBBYIST is bound to that PAC until communication is lost or the bribe expires (after 45 sec). |