ECE477 FINAL REVIEW: TEAM # 6
TWITCH PLAYS TANKS
Michael Loh, Andres Avila, Andres Castillo, and Sung-Yeon Choi
OUTLINE
• Project Overview
• Block Diagram
• Design Challenges
• Individual Contributions
• Project Demonstration
• Q&A
PROJECT OVERVIEW
• Twitch Plays Tanks is a game played between two model tanks
controlled by either an Android app or live command input
from a Twitch stream. The goal of each player is to score
enough hits on his opponent to win.
BLOCK DIAGRAM
DESIGN CHALLENGES
 Using IP camera with the tanks
 Debugging PCB
 Problems with IR receivers and emitters
 Hardware Fixes
 Software Fixes
 Android Application Threading Issue
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
▪ Andres Castillo
▪ Designed the hit detection system for the tanks (using NAND and Inverter
Gates)
▪ Designed and tested the circuitry for the motors in the tank (before
finalizing in PCB)
▪ Tested the IR emitter and Receiver circuitry (before finalizing in PCB)
▪ Designed, tested and debugged the PCB for each tank
▪ Helped debug software that mainly dealt with tank’s movement and
communication
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
▪ Sung Yeon-Choi
▪ Developed the software for the Android App with Bluetooth
communication (as client) to Raspberry Pi.
▪ Developed Raspberry Pi module for Bluetooth communication (as server).
▪ Initialized Raspberry Pi for use with other hardware.
▪ Designed and implemented software game system using threading
modules that Andres set up
▪ Helped debug software and hardware issues dealing with the
functionalities of the tank
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
▪ Andres Avila
▪ Developed the software for the MSP430 in each tank. This includes serial
communication to XBEEs, IR hit detection, and motor controls.
▪ Implemented Twitch parser, serial communication, and threading modules
for Raspberry Pi.
▪ Performed initial prototyping on the different tank peripherals.
▪ Initialized XBEE modules with appropriate settings for wireless
communication.
INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
▪ Michael Loh
▪ Performed majority of research on parts needed to implement the project,
including selection of microcontroller, various ICs, and wireless modules.
▪ Assisted in development of software on the MSP430 and integration of the
XBEE modules onboard the tank.
▪ Performed various tests on IR hit detection and designed circuit to
increase the range of the IR emitter.
▪ Designed and constructed the Tank arena.
PSSCs
1.
An ability to receive and send commands between MSP430 and Raspberry Pi
through ZigBee.
2.
An ability to communicate between Android app and Raspberry Pi through
Bluetooth.
3.
An ability to have Raspberry Pi parse commands from Twitch IRC chat.
4.
An ability to use IR receiver and transmitter as hit detection system.
5.
An ability to have the tank translate sent commands into accurate motor
movement
Video
Questions?