Teaching Robotics and Computer Science with Pinball

Machines

Daniel Wong, Darren Earl, Fred Zyda, Sven Koenig

University of Southern California

Overview

• Games, Robotics, and Education• Pinball Machines and Education• Pinball Project @ USC• Future Work• Conclusion

Games and USC

• Bachelor’s program in CS (Games)• Master’s program in CS (Game

Development)

Games and Education

• Computer Architecture• Algorithms and Data Structures• Networking• Human-Computer Interaction• Artificial Intelligence

– Path Planning– Machine Learning

Games and Education

• Technical skills– Programming skills– Software engineering skills

• Creativity• Design skills• Artistic skills• Problem-solving skills• Teamwork skills

Games and USC

Games and USC

Games and USC

• 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.

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

Games and Robotics

• Robotics education place emphasis on high-level software

• Use games as motivation to teach robotics

Games and Robotics

• Communication protocol– Serial, I2C, SPI

• Signal generation– PWM

• Interface– To hardware: motors, servos – To sensors: switches, optical sensors

Games and Robotics

Goal• Teach hardware interface• Using games as motivation

• Hardware+Games+Robotics=Pinball Machines!

Outline

• Games, Robotics, and Education• Pinball Machines and Education• Pinball Project @ USC• Future Work• Conclusion

Pinball and Education

• Pinball Machines can be used as a novel platform for teaching CS and Robotic Concepts

Pinball Machines

• Coin-operated arcade game• Backbox• Playfield• DMD

Pinball Machine

Pinball Machine

• Actuators• Sensors• Visual outputs• Pinball Machine is

a simple robot!

Pinball Machine

• DC motor• Electro

-magnets• Upkicker• Solenoids

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

Pinball and Education

• Teach game design– What makes pinball

games fun?• Teach robotics concept

Pinball and Education

• Easy to maintain• Robust• Simple Low-Level Control

Outline

• Games, Robotics, and Education• Pinball Machines and Education• Pinball Project @ USC• Future Work• Conclusion

Pinball Project

• Modify an existing pinball machine

• Custom games• Flexible hardware

control• Simple API

Pinball Project

• Started Summer ‘08• 2 generations of interface hardware• 1 Pinball game design class• Diverse development team

Timeline

• Summer ‘08: 1st generation interface• Fall ’08: Used in CS499• Spring-Summer ’09: 2nd generation

interface

Implementation

Interface Requirements• Inexpensive• Meet soft real-time need• Portable• Not Permanent

Implementation

• ~$100

Implementation

Implementation

• 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);

elsesetSolenoid("Left Flipper", 0);

}

Pinhorse

• Fall 08CS499: “Designing and Implementing Games on Pinball Machines”

• 2 students• 1 semester

Pinhorse

• Lack of multiplayer gameplay– No time restriction– No direct influence

• Goal:– Players influence each other– Limited Time

Pinhorse

• Modeled after Horse in basketball– Player 1 makes shot– Player 2 tries to replicate shot

• 1 minute turns

Pinhorse

Outline

• Games, Robotics, and Education• Pinball Machines and Education• Pinball Project @ USC• Future Work• Conclusion

Future Work

• Formal evaluation• Ball tracking• Complex, engaging game• Explore other pinball machines• Hybrid pinball game

Future Work

• New collaboration withUniversity of Alberta

• Implement ScriptEase module– ScriptEase: Model for AI scripting

• Implement high-performance player

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

Resources

• Web: idm-lab.org/pinball• Sven Koenig, skoenig@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.