Attendant-Free Game Machine With Sensor-Based Attempt Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Midway-style games require an attendant to administer and oversee gameplay, incurring labor costs and reliability issues, necessitating a solution to enable attendant-free operation.
Innovation Solution
An electronic game machine with a lower cabinet, target cabinet, and sensor arrays to detect projectile movement and direction, eliminating the need for an attendant by counting authorized attempts and preventing unauthorized actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an attendant is used to administer and oversee the game, then unauthorized attempts can be prevented and gameplay can be monitored, but labor costs increase and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The game machine automatically monitors and tracks gameplay attempts using sensor arrays and a controller, eliminating the need for an attendant to oversee the game. The system self-manages the counting of attempts and prevention of unauthorized plays through automated detection and control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual monitoring function previously performed by an attendant is replaced with an automated electronic system comprising sensor arrays, a controller, and a processor that detect interruptions, count attempts, and control game machine operations electronically.
2Reliability
If an attendant is hired to keep score and track attempts, then gameplay integrity is maintained, but labor costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The game machine automatically tracks and records the number of attempts made by players using sensor arrays and a controller, eliminating the need for an attendant to manually keep score and track attempts, thereby removing labor costs while maintaining reliable attempt tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives feedback from sensor arrays about player attempts and automatically updates the tracked attempt count, providing real-time monitoring and recording of gameplay without human intervention.
3Extent of automation
If sensor arrays are installed to detect interruptions and track attempts, then automated monitoring is achieved and attendants are eliminated, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring function is divided into multiple sensor arrays positioned at different locations, each detecting interruptions in specific detection areas. This segmentation allows the system to accurately track attempts while distributing the complexity across multiple simple, modular sensor units rather than requiring a single complex monitoring system.
4Reliability
If multiple sensor arrays are used to detect interruptions in different areas, then unauthorized attempts are better prevented, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection space is divided into multiple detection areas, each monitored by a separate sensor array. This segmentation enables the system to detect unauthorized attempts from different angles and locations, improving reliability while keeping each individual sensor unit simple and modular.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensor arrays are positioned at different spatial locations and orientations to create a three-dimensional detection network. This multi-dimensional approach to monitoring prevents unauthorized attempts more effectively than a single sensor array, as it can detect attempts from various directions and angles.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables self-administered gameplay by detecting authorized projectile attempts and disregarding unauthorized ones, reducing labor costs and ensuring fair play without human oversight.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sensor array configured to detect interruptions in a detection area located between the counter section and the target cabinet
Data Source
AI summary
An attendant-free midway-style electronic game machine. The game machine includes a predetermined number of projectiles for game play during a user game play session, a lower cabinet or first structural portion, a target cabinet or second structural portion having a target, and at least one detector. The lower cabinet may include a counter section and an elongated ramp section ending proximal to a user play position. The target cabinet may be located on top of the ramp section and spaced a distance from the counter section. At least one detector, which may be in the form of a sensor array, is configured to detect when an interruption occurs in the array indicating a projectile has passed by the detection area. The game machine may be configured to detect when a projectile has been actuated towards the target or has ricocheted off the target and is traveling towards the counter section. An electronic controller in electronic communication with said detector, may be configured to automatically end a game play session once a predetermined number of said game projectiles have been detected as having been actuated by a user toward said target.