Senior Project is done
We've finally finished our senior project. Took three quarters and a couple extra weeks of tweaking but it's essentially done now (as far as what we had to do). Actually have a video of it in action too. We made everything except the orange walls (the doors, wheel, TVs, frames, metal walls inside the elevator). The walls contain about 50 different parts (gears, shafts, chains, weights, clutch, etc) to make the doors work. Additionally, there is an entire table of electronics in another room running the thing. The videos used during the ride are all placeholders.
As a background, the elevator is installed in the new San Luis Obispo Children's Museum. The first floor is themed as a volcanic cavern, so the kids take our "elevator" down into the volcano. By pressing the button on the front they "call" the elevator and a video gives an intro. They turn the wheel on the side to pull open the doors. Once inside they press the down button, the doors shut and lock, and the video/audio starts. At the end the rear doors unlock and they exit the elevator. We have 3 computer running video and a controller with about 20 inputs/outputs controlling the rest.
Oh, and the inside of the elevator still needs to be covered and decorated, but that's not our job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqvW72X3Xqs
In other news, I'm starting my search for apartments. I'm so glad a massive amount of my paycheck will go to overpriced living. But I'm positive I'll enjoy the area and the job will be good too, so it's really not that bad.
Also I graduated. So that's good. Hopefully in another couple years I'll go back for grad school. I wish I could do it now, but honestly I don't quite know what I'd want to study yet and the money just isn't there. But my employer does encourage and assist with schooling so that should work out eventually.
As a background, the elevator is installed in the new San Luis Obispo Children's Museum. The first floor is themed as a volcanic cavern, so the kids take our "elevator" down into the volcano. By pressing the button on the front they "call" the elevator and a video gives an intro. They turn the wheel on the side to pull open the doors. Once inside they press the down button, the doors shut and lock, and the video/audio starts. At the end the rear doors unlock and they exit the elevator. We have 3 computer running video and a controller with about 20 inputs/outputs controlling the rest.
Oh, and the inside of the elevator still needs to be covered and decorated, but that's not our job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqvW72X3Xqs
In other news, I'm starting my search for apartments. I'm so glad a massive amount of my paycheck will go to overpriced living. But I'm positive I'll enjoy the area and the job will be good too, so it's really not that bad.
Also I graduated. So that's good. Hopefully in another couple years I'll go back for grad school. I wish I could do it now, but honestly I don't quite know what I'd want to study yet and the money just isn't there. But my employer does encourage and assist with schooling so that should work out eventually.