Imposter Species: A Museum Exhibit on Invasive Species
Mechanical Engineer | September 2023 - December 2023 | Boston, MA
Background
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This project was inspired by the need for accessible, engaging educational exhibits for schools in underserved areas, where sustainability topics are often underemphasized. The following were objectives:​
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Education: Teach students to distinguish invasive vs. native species, understand their environmental impact, and learn ways to prevent their spread
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Engagement: Create a fun, interactive, and competitive experience that encourages participation
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Portability: Meet strict size and transport constraints for easy setup and teardown
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Innovation: Integrate animatronics, coding, and engineering design to create a technically advanced exhibit
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Design and Prototyping
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Through brainstorming sessions, we developed multiple concepts inspired by classic games. A Whac-A-Mole–style exhibit stood out for its simplicity, competitive gameplay, and strong alignment with our educational goals. Using a Kepner-Tregoe Decision Analysis, we selected this concept based on relevance, interactivity, and user appeal. We then created a SOLIDWORKS 3D model to finalize exhibit dimensions and produced a prototype to determine optimal placement for the screen and buttons.
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Final Design
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The exhibit used a wooden box frame with laser-cut slots for the buttons and animatronics. Wood panels were laser-cut from AutoCAD drawings based on the SOLIDWORKS model, then assembled with wood glue and clamps. The back panel was left open for easy access to wiring and electronics, and Velcro strips were added to secure a laptop stand.
A servo-driven pulley system was used to raise and lower the Among Us figures. Balanced platform designs helped stabilize the figures during motion. To ensure consistent operation, the motors were calibrated using Sharpie markings on the pulleys and refined through extensive timing adjustments in the code.
The exhibit’s electronics were powered by an Arduino Mega 2560. Components included:
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A breadboard for wiring servo motors and buttons.
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SparkFun buttons connected to the Arduino to register inputs during gameplay.
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Custom code in Arduino IDE to control game logic, motor actions, and user feedback.
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Gameplay Logic: Code was developed to display species randomly, track scores, and progress through three game rounds.
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Interactive GUI: Designed in Canva, the GUI presented invasive species, rules, and quiz questions.
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Audio and Visual Enhancements: Sound effects and animated transitions were added to improve engagement.
