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Teaching Robotics and Computer Science with Pinball Machines Daniel Wong, Darren Earl, Fred Zyda, Sven Koenig University of Southern California
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Overview Games, Robotics, and Education Pinball Machines and Education Pinball Project @ USC Future Work Conclusion
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Games and USC Bachelor’s program in CS (Games) Master’s program in CS (Game Development)
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Games and Education Computer Architecture Algorithms and Data Structures Networking Human-Computer Interaction Artificial Intelligence –Path Planning –Machine Learning
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Games and Education Technical skills –Programming skills –Software engineering skills Creativity Design skills Artistic skills Problem-solving skills Teamwork skills
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Games and USC
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Gamepipe Demo Day –Attendees have included Electronic Arts, Activision, Blizzard, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Online Entertainment, Digital Domain, Disney (Interactive, Feature Animation, Internet Group), LucasArts, Microsoft, Google, Akamai, 2K Sports, THQ, CNET Networks, Qualcomm, Tactical Language, Seven Studios, iSportGames, Emsense, Creative Artists Agency, Applied Minds, Big Stage, Konami, Pandemic, Insomniac Games, Naughtydog, Northrup Grumman, Steamboat Ventures, TnGames, Sun Microsystems, Motorola Research Laboratories, Humana Innovation Center, Sandia National Laboratories, and Westside Transmedia.
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Games and USC Increased number of application to Bachelor’s program in Computer Science –223 in Fall ‘06 to 383 in Fall ’07 Equal number of CS and CS (Games) Successful internship placement –EA, Disney, Blizzard, Activision
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Games and Robotics Robotics education place emphasis on high-level software Use games as motivation to teach robotics
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Games and Robotics Communication protocol –Serial, I2C, SPI Signal generation –PWM Interface –To hardware: motors, servos –To sensors: switches, optical sensors
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Games and Robotics Goal Teach hardware interface Using games as motivation Hardware+Games+Robotics= Pinball Machines!
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Outline Games, Robotics, and Education Pinball Machines and Education Pinball Project @ USC Future Work Conclusion
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Pinball and Education Pinball Machines can be used as a novel platform for teaching CS and Robotic Concepts
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Pinball Machines Coin-operated arcade game Backbox Playfield DMD
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Pinball Machine
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Actuators Sensors Visual outputs Pinball Machine is a simple robot!
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Pinball Machine DC motor Electro -magnets Upkicker Solenoids
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Previous Work In Research –Hybrid system control (Lichtenberg and Neidig, 2003), Machine Learning In Teaching –CS160 “Intro. To Embedded and Real-Time Programming”, Brown University –ME218a “Smart Product Design Laboratory”, Stanford University –EE476 “Designing with Microcontrollers”, Cornell University –ENEE 488Q “Special Topics in Elec. Eng: Pinball Machine Project”, University of Maryland, College Park
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Pinball and Education Teach game design –What makes pinball games fun? Teach robotics concept
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Pinball and Education Easy to maintain Robust Simple Low-Level Control
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Outline Games, Robotics, and Education Pinball Machines and Education Pinball Project @ USC Future Work Conclusion
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Pinball Project Modify an existing pinball machine Custom games Flexible hardware control Simple API
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Pinball Project Started Summer ‘08 2 generations of interface hardware 1 Pinball game design class Diverse development team
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Timeline Summer ‘08: 1 st generation interface Fall ’08: Used in CS499 Spring-Summer ’09: 2 nd generation interface
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Implementation
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Interface Requirements Inexpensive Meet soft real-time need Portable Not Permanent
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Implementation ~$100
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Implementation
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Event-driven software Friendly API installDedicatedSwitchEventHandler(leftFlipper, "Left Flipper Button", kSwitchRising); void leftFlipper(int switchId, std::string description, tSwitchEvent event) { if (event == kSwitchRising) setSolenoid("Left Flipper", 1); else setSolenoid("Left Flipper", 0); }
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Pinhorse Fall 08 CS499: “Designing and Implementing Games on Pinball Machines” 2 students 1 semester
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Pinhorse Lack of multiplayer gameplay –No time restriction –No direct influence Goal: –Players influence each other –Limited Time
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Pinhorse Modeled after Horse in basketball –Player 1 makes shot –Player 2 tries to replicate shot 1 minute turns
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Pinhorse
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Outline Games, Robotics, and Education Pinball Machines and Education Pinball Project @ USC Future Work Conclusion
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Future Work Formal evaluation Ball tracking Complex, engaging game Explore other pinball machines Hybrid pinball game
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Future Work New collaboration with University of Alberta Implement ScriptEase module –ScriptEase: Model for AI scripting Implement high-performance player
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Conclusion Games can motivate CS curriculum Robotics education focus on high-level Pinball Machines can be used as a novel platform for teaching CS and Robotics
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Resources Web: idm-lab.org/pinball Sven Koenig, skoenig@usc.eduskoenig@usc.edu Daniel Wong, wongdani@usc.edu Thank you! The pinball project was supported in part by a grant from the USC Fund for Innovative Undergraduate Teaching and the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0113881. Daniel Wong was supported by the USC Undergraduate Merit Research Program and the Rose Hills Foundation.
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