Arduino Video Game Console
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In the second semester of my first year, I led a team of four engineering students to create a scratch-built handheld video game console. The project was intentionally open-ended, with minimal constraints other than that the console must:
- Be ergonomic and lightweight
- Have a reset mechanism
- Have a unique, defining quality not found in many other consoles
- Be engaging and entertaining
Based on the constraints, we selected a gyroscopically-controlled racing console, using motion input to differentiate gameplay from similar products. As team lead, I was responsible for case design, software implementation, and overall project management. The most significant technical challenge was getting stable and responsive input from the onboard gyroscope. Initial prototypes suffered from inconsistent readings, sensitivity to mounting orientation, and poor repeatability, which directly impacted user experience. Through iterative testing and software filtering, we improved system stability and accuracy to a usable level for real-time control.
The console’s Arduino circuit
This project helped provide me with an early foundation in embedded system integration, sensor debugging, and prototyping under open‑ended design constraints, influencing my later interest in hardware‑focused engineering projects.
