For Ryan Shannon and friends' complete instructions on how to build your own electronic version of Twister and associated microcontroller code, click here.
Engineering student Ryan Shannon and friends created a high-tech, interactive version of Twister that tracks the positions of players on any of 24 possible locations. A dc motor spins the player position arrow, the location of which is tracked by two photo interrupters. A micro-controller correlates the signals with game position, sending a series of pulses to a sound chip that issues vocal instructions, also displayed on an LCD. To deter the potential for cheating, copper switches on the board track the position of all players.
Electronic Twister parts list
Amt
Part Description
Allied Part #
1
LCD
670-1116
1
10 MHz Oscillator
895-0685
1
4 Mhz Crystal
895-0677
1
Red LED
670-1245
1
Green LED
670-1244
1
Yellow LED
670-1247
1
Blue LED
670-1071
1
100-ft Black Wire
708-9891
1
Speaker
623-2048
1
2N3904
568-8253
1
TIP31C
263-0386
1
5V Regulator
263-0135
1
Breadboard
761-0160
1
12V Wall Transformer
928-9725
1
DC Motor
793-0462
1
Diode
263-1538
1
Photo Interrupter
263-1361
Additional parts required: 25 Pin D-sub cable; assorted capacitors and resistors; PIC 16F84A microcontroller; PIC 16F877A microcontroller; 1 large, 1 small protoboard; Twister board; copper sheet; backing for game board; paint; fasteners, aluminum; sheet metal
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