F18: baem geim

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Grading Criteria

  • How well is Software & Hardware Design described?
  • How well can this report be used to reproduce this project?
  • Code Quality
  • Overall Report Quality:
    • Software Block Diagrams
    • Hardware Block Diagrams
      Schematic Quality
    • Quality of technical challenges and solutions adopted.

Project Title

baem geim - Snake Game Reborn

Snake.jpg

Abstract

baem geim is a revived, most amusing Snake Game where a player maneuvers a line which grows in length, with the line itself and wall as obstacle. The concept originated in the 1976 arcade game Blockade, and the ease of implementing snake has led to hundreds of versions for many platforms. This is a new version of snake game which we have developed. The player controls the dot using handheld joystick. As it moves forward, it leaves a trail behind, resembling a moving snake. The snake movement is visually displayed in real time on a 32*32 LED Matrix. The player attempts to eat randomly generated dots as fruits by running into it with the head of the snake. Each fruit eaten increases the length of the snake and controlling it becomes progressively difficult. The player loses the game if the snake runs into itself or hits the screen border. The game is designed using two SJone LPC1758 microcontroller boards one each to drive LED Matrix and Joystick module respectively. They communicate wirelessly through RF Nordic transceiver.

Objectives & Introduction

The main objective of the project is to develop a 2D soleplayer snake game. Other milestones to achieve the objective are as below.

  • Visually display the movement of the snake on LED Matrix in real time.
  • Control the movement of the Snake through Joystick.
  • Transmit the control data wirelessly from input to output console through Nordic transceiver.
  • Design PCB for distribution of input power appropriately between two SJone boards.

The project is broadly divided into two modules.

1. Input Module: The input module connects SJone board to two-axis joystick which is used to control the snake advancement. Nordic transmitter continuously transmits control packets to the output module.

2. Output Module: The output module connects another SJone board to LED Matrix for visual display. It recursively polls to receive control packets from the input module and updates the snake movement as per user's input.

Team Members & Responsibilities

Schedule

Week# Date Task Status Actual Completion Date
1 09/22/2018
  • Reviewed previous projects of CMPE 244 on Socialledge.
  • Brainstormed ideas and came up with 3 proposals.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 09/25/2018
2 09/29/2018
  • Had detailed discussion on second set of project ideas involving LED Matrix.
  • Came up with 2 game projects, prepared abstracts and submitted them for review.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 10/02/2018
3 10/06/2018
  • With approved baem geim proposal, discussed approach and list of components.
  • Prepared schedule for project flow.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 10/07/2018
4 10/13/2018
  • Division project into modules and assignment of responsibilities for each module to individual team member.
  • Order of essential components to kickstart project work.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 10/14/2018
5 10/20/2018
  • Tested LED Matrix using Dash charger, however power was insufficient as a result of which random patterns were generated.
  • Realized requirement of Female Barrel Jack adapter and 5V/4A power supply for complete illumination.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 10/21/2018
6 10/27/2018
  • Initiated driver for LED Matrix to display characters/desired pattern.
  • Systematically drafted steps for flow of the game and initiated design of algorithm for snake movement.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/14/2018
  • 11/10/2018
7 11/03/2018
  • Discussed challenges in writing the complete driver for LED Matrix, switched to the approach of modifying pre-existing library as per requirements.
  • Finalized Joystick module as input for snake control and placed order.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/04/2018
8 11/10/2018
  • Understand working of Joystick Module and implement simple driver to control directions and push button for game start.
  • Download EagleCAD software for design of schematic and layout. Further explore various options available.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/15/2018
  • 11/12/2018
8 11/13/2018
  • To read the datasheet of Nordic wireless and understand high level API's used. Realized need for Quad band Antennas and placed order.
  • Finalize components to be on PCB and kickstart with schematic.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/16/2018
9 11/17/18
  • Develop basic driver to transfer data wirelessly between two SJone boards.
  • Test working of Snake game by utilizing pushbutton switches on SJONE board.
  • Review schematic and PCB layout designs of previous years projects.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/19/2018
  • 11/19/2018
  • 11/19/2018
9 11/20/18
  • Review and test Nordic wireless driver for successful data transfer between two boards.
  • Schematic and Layout design on Eagle.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/21/2018
9 11/22/18
  • Integrate driver of Joystick with Nordic to wirelessly transmit control movements to recipient board.
  • Schematic and Layout design on Eagle.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/23/2018
  • 11/23/2018
9 11/22/18
  • Implement Start Screen and logic for gameover when Snake head comes in contact with its body/tail.
  • Review Schematic and Layout design.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 11/26/2018
  • 11/24/2018
10 11/24/18
  • Design algorithm to display score and implement two modes for playing game with/without screen border.
  • Generate PCB gerber files and provide it to manufacturer for fabrication.
  • Completed
  • Completed
  • 12/01/2018
  • 11/30/2018
10 11/27/18
  • Pre-test the complete game diligently and examine errors if any.
  • Test the fabricated PCB.
  • In-progress
  • Not Started
  •  ?
  •  ?
11 12/01/18
  • Final testing of the game and resolve flaws if any
  • Not Started
  •  ?

Parts List & Cost

Item# Part Description Vendor Qty Cost
1 SJOne LPC1758 Microcontroller Board Preet 2 $160.00
2 32x32 RGB LED Matrix Amazon 1 $56.00
3 5V/4A Power Adapter Amazon 1 $8.99
4 DC Barrel Jack Adapter - Female Fry's Electronics 1 $2.90
5 Osepp Joystick Module Fry's Electronics 1 $6.54
6 Right Angle Mini Quad Band Antenna Amazon 2 $16.52
7 PCB JLC PCB 5 $19.36
Total - - $270.31

Design & Implementation

Hardware Design

The Hardware design for baem geim involves the use of two SJone LPC1758 microcontroller boards, 32x32 RGB LED Matrix, Joystick module and Nordic Wireless Transceiver as described below. Pin configuration information for integration with PCB and power source have been detailed.

LED Matrix

RGB LED Matrix Organization

The Project uses 32x32 6mm pitch RGB LED Matrix consisting of 1024 RGB LEDs. 32 rows of LED matrix have been divided into 16 interleaved sections/strips. The first section is the 1st 'row' and 16th 'row' (32 x 2 RGB LEDs = 64 RGB LEDs) the second section is 2nd 'row' and 17th 'row' and so on. On the PCB is 12 LED driver chips. These are like 74HC595s but they have 16 outputs and they are constant current. 16 outputs * 12 chips = 192 LEDs that can be controlled at once, and 64 * 3 (R G and B) = 192. So now the design comes together. We can have 192 outputs that can control one line at a time, with each of 192 R, G and B LEDs either on or off. The LPC1758 controller selects which section to currently draw (using A, B, C and D address pins - 4 bits can have 16 values). Once the address is set, the controller clocks out 192 bits of data (24 bytes) and latches it. Then it increments the address and clocks out another 192 bits, etc until it gets to address #15, then it sets the address back to #0. To light up an individual pixel, appropriate row value is loaded on to the address pins A,B,C & D, Clock is set out to traverse the row and when required pixel is reached, the latch is set high to turn ON the LED.

LED Matrix Connection to SJone Board















Technical Specification:
Dimensions: 190.5mm x 190.5mm x 14mm / 7.5" x 7.5" x 0.55"
Panel weight with IDC cables and power cable: 357.51g
5V regulated power input, 4A max (all LEDs on)
5V data logic level input
2000 mcd LEDs on 6mm pitch
1/16 scan rate
Indoor display, 150 degree visibility
Displays are 'chainable'

Joystick:

Joystick Schematic

The project uses a 2-axis self centered joystick module from osepp. Its goal is to communicate motion in 2D to SJone board. This is achieved by using two independent 10K potentiometers (one per axis) which can be used as dual adjustable voltage dividers, providing 2-axis analog input in a control stick form. The Joystick stick design consists of Gimbal mechanism along with two potentiometers. When joystick is rotated, it moves a narrow rod, that sits in two rotatable shafts (Gimbal). One of the shafts allows motion in the X-axis(left-right) while the other allows motion in the Y-axis (up-down). Tilting it forward and backward pivots the Y-axis shaft, while tilting it left to right pivots X-axis shaft. Moving it diagonally pivots both shafts. To read the joystick's physical position, we need to measure the change in resistance of potentiometer connected to each joystick shaft. The change can be read by LPC microcontroller's analog pin using ADC. With the microcontroller's 12-bit resolution, the values on each analog channel(axis) can vary from 0 to 4095. Thus, if the stick is moved on X-axis from one end to the other, the values change from 0 to 4095 and similar thing happens when it's moved along Y-axis. At Joystick's default position, its value is about 2048.

Pin Connection of Joystick module to SJone


Technical Specification:
Operating voltage output : 3.3V – 5V MAX
Analog input
two 10K potentiometers with common ground per axis
Spring auto return to center on knob
Operating temp range: +32°F to +158°F (0°C to +70°C)
Unit Weight: 4 oz








Nordic Wireless:
The project uses nRF24L01+ single chip 2.4GHZ transceiver rooted on SJone board to establish wireless communication between input and output modules. It uses embedded baseband protocol engine (Enhanced ShockBurst™), suitable for ultra low power wireless applications. The nRF24L01+ is designed for operation in the world wide ISM frequency band at 2.400 - 2.4835GHz. It is configured and operated through Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI0) of LPC1758 microcontroller. The embedded baseband protocol engine (Enhanced ShockBurst™) is based on packet communication and supports various modes from manual operation to advanced autonomous protocol operation. Internal FIFOs ensure a smooth data flow between the radio front end and the system’s MCU. Enhanced Shock-Burst™ reduces system cost by handling all the high speed link layer operations. The radio front end uses GFSK modulation. It consists of 126 different RF channels, which gives a possibility to have a network of 125 independently working modems in one place. It has a power consumption of about 12mA during transmission which is even lower than a single LED. Its operating voltage is between 1.8 and 3.7V.

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