AirArena
A reimagined DIY airhockey table
a mini project at the intersection of technology and entertainment bringing an air-hockey table to the home environment.
Course
Creative electronics
Main Deliverables
Airhockey table prototype Control circuit Poster desing Process video
Expertise areas
Technology & Realization, Math, Data & Computing, Creativity & Aesthetics
Date
March 2023
This course has been intense. I went through densely packed theory sprints along with weekly laboratory assignments that required a lot of my time, frustration, and effort. More often than not, leading me to balance at the edge of my intellectual ability - tirelessly trying to figure out why my breadboard configuration leads to a short circuit... However, by the end, I have developed a sufficient know-how to move beyond following a set blueprint and start on a creative mini project with one of my peers. Trying to escape the highly theoretical nature of previous assignments we decided to design at the intersection of technology and entertainment, creating a fully operational mini air hockey table. This turned out to be an extremely exciting challenge. Our project required the use of modern technologies, such as laser cutting and 3D printing. Additionally, the short time frame forced a close-collaboration workflow, swift division of tasks, and smart time management.
The result was a working prototype of a miniature air hockey table. General electronics know-how serves as a gateway for transforming ideas into actuality. Throughout this course, I have been reinforcing my coding skills with microcontrollers and lifted the fog of ‘untouchable complexity’ that I have always associated with the subject of electronics. My main takeaway from the course is unlocking previously 'unattainable' ways of creating experienceable prototypes in the realms of smart products. I believe that this toolset will be of great utility - bringing creative visions to life and allowing to communicate them more effectively with stakeholders.