Rube Goldberg Machine

Duration: 0:35

View Now

How it works:

1. The Rube Goldberg machine is executed by the sound sensor detecting a noise like a hand clap and activates the foosball guy to kick the ball into the tilt cylinder.
2. The degree of tilt is sensed by the magnet on the far end of the tilting cylinder as it goes up to trigger Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtle action figure to move along the conveyor belt.
3. There is a sonic sensor facing the figure and as it draws near the sensor within a specified range, prompts the bird with the temperature sensor beak to dip its beak into the glass of cold water.
4. When the drop in temperature is detected to stimulate the sensor at the crane holding a truck by a magnet and drops the truck into a bin.
5. The movement in the bin is recognized by a vibration sensor that turns on the DMX light.
6. The light shining on the Gumball machine is detected by the light sensor and triggers the release of a gumball down the shoot.

The processors used in this machine were all easy-to-use CCS E3mini boards that have a PIC^® processor programmable from a USB port.

The various sensors that were used for this project are shown in the diagram above and are listed in order below.

• Sound
• Tilt
• Magnetic
• Sonic
• Temperature
• Vibration
• Light