[MAZE] Cat. B - Joystick control system

[rodiziorobs]

Here is my entry for Category B (Maze control system).

MAZE joystick control by rodiziorobs, on Flickr

Rather than relying on an etch-a-sketch style control system (in other words, rather than the forward/backward tilt movement and left/right tilt movement being controlled with separate knobs), all movement is controlled by a single joystick.

MAZE joystick control by rodiziorobs, on Flickr

The joystick is attached to a ball joint mounted pointing upwards, which gives it a wide range of motion. A similar ball joint attaches the maze platform to the base. The movement of the joystick is transferred to the column that supports the maze by two control arms within the housing: one arm controls the left to right movement, and the other controls the movement back and forth.

Below is a video clip that explains and demonstrates the function of the control system (clicking the video will take you to Flickr to view it there). These features are also explained in the text below:

Video by rodiziorobs, on Flickr

MAZE joystick control by rodiziorobs, on Flickr

These control arms have a reducing effect on the movement of the maze tilt platform, meaning that large movements of the joystick will only effect small movements on the column. This allows greater control over the tilt of the maze in any direction.

The reduction effect works because the control arms are attached very close to the base of the joystick but very close to the top of the maze support column. Moving the joystick moves these control arms a proportionate amount in any horizontal direction. The arms move the same distance for the maze support arm, but because they are farther from the pivot center, the change in angle for the support column is smaller than for the joystick, resulting in a reduced tilt.

The housing is decorated with an electric blue and black design with white accents. The knob on the joystick is also the storage for the marble/soccer ball.

The maze board design is just the official design used in the LEGO Ideas set, based on the project submitted by Jason Allemann, but redesigned in a fiery lava color scheme (which contrasts nicely with the colors on the base). It is for demonstration purposes only, and not considered part of my entry. In fact, you might have seen it on Andromeda’s Gates recently. (Go MANTIS!)

MAZE control box, detached cradle, and maze board by rodiziorobs, on Flickr

Thanks for looking over my entry! And thanks to Bob for organizing the contest! Good luck to all participants.

More at my Flickr page: rodiziorobs

Edited June 6, 2016 by rodiziorobs

[Jbricks]

Great idea! Can't wait to see in action!

[KamalMYafi]

Wow, what a Great Idea! but have you seen the Cat B on this. if you read on that:

B: Maze tilt system - Build a maze tilt system compatible with the #21305 Maze set's games boards. The basic functions must remain the same, but you can decorate it as you wish, or add functionalities.

Because, as i know about that, this must be use the same system.

Edited June 5, 2016 by KamalMYafi

[soccerkid6]

That is super cool! Joystick operation Cool color-scheme too

[Orange Leader]

Very, very cool! Design and colour scheme is also great.

[rodiziorobs]

UPDATE: I have added a video to the original post. It is hosted on Flickr, so clicking it or the link below it will take you to that site to view it.

Thanks everybody for the encouraging comments!

Wow, what a Great Idea! but have you seen the Cat B on this. if you read on that:

Build a maze tilt system compatible with the #21305 Maze set's games boards.The basic functions must remain the same, but you can decorate it as you wish, or add functionalities.

Because, as i know about that, this must be use the same system.

Thanks for the heads-up. I read the rules, and saw nothing that would make this concept ineligible; it is compatible with any standard board, the function--tilting a board to move the ball to navigate the maze--remains the same. Perhaps the added functionality is that it only requires on knob to control it.

[KamalMYafi]

I read the rules, and saw nothing that would make this concept ineligible; it is compatible with any standard board, the function--tilting a board to move the ball to navigate the maze--remains the same. Perhaps the added functionality is that it only requires on knob to control it.

Actually, it's not on the rules, but it's on what we have to do for Cat A & B.

[David FNJ]

Man, that joystick function is absolutely fantastic! Sweet base design as well!

[Bob De Quatre]

I'll be honest and admit I never thought someone would completely get rid of the knobs

Updating the mechanism that makes the board tilt is allowed, and I consider this entry as an extremely updated tilt mechanism, that is still compatible with standard game board and achieve the same basic functions (the main and only one being the tilting of the board).

[anothergol]

While I don't own / haven't tested the maze yet [i don't like the tan color scheme so I was hoping to bricklink the best version out of this contest], I love the idea of a joystick instead of knobs, however.. is it as responsive? The joystick seems to have quite some dead zone, at least on one axis, while the original version seems precise, no?

Still a great version.

[rodiziorobs]

I'll be honest and admit I never thought someone would completely get rid of the knobs

Updating the mechanism that makes the board tilt is allowed, and I consider this entry as an extremely updated tilt mechanism, that is still compatible with standard game board and achieve the same basic functions (the main and only one being the tilting of the board).

Thanks for the clarification, Bob! I didn't expect to disrupt things so much by discarding the knobs (I honestly was worried a half a dozen other people would submit some kind of joystick system!)

The joystick seems to have quite some dead zone, at least on one axis, while the original version seems precise, no?

Still a great version.

There is a little play in it, mostly in the center, but the control is fairly responsive throughout its range of motion. There is a slightly smaller range of movement in one direction, and this is seen at the end of the video when the ball gets a little bit hung up on the edge of a tile.

[LittleJohn]

Fantastic idea and execution with the joystick, rodiziorobs! The black and trans light blue colorscheme works well here too