Project Overview
RoboRome was an edutainment installation built for the 2010 Spring Carnival booth competition, an annual tradition where student organizations design and build elaborate, themed booths with games and prizes for children. Our team created an immersive Roman-themed experience featuring robotic gladiator sculptures, a randomized circuit-maze game, and a patterned nighttime lighting display. RoboRome won first place overall in the annual competition, and inspired future designs for years to come. The team
Technical Implementation
Structural and Architectural Design
20'x20', two-story structure with retractable roof cover.
Modular Design
Allowed for entire structure to be pre-assembled offsite, moved by hand to final location and finished in 4 days.
Environmental Consideration
Timber design with 90% re-used materials, and sculptures and artistic finishes using scrap materials - for example, exterior mosaic completed with all irregular scraps.
Safety & Reliability
No injuries to team during construction or operation. Operation maintained through severe thunderstorm
Key Features
Interactive Circuit Maze Game
Custom-built "maze" consisting of mechanical switches, electroluminescent wire connections, and uniquely randomized but guaranteed solveable mazes for every player.
Over 500 prizes given to players
High-Reliability Operation
Engineered for 36 hours of operation during Spring Carnival weekend, with rapid troubleshooting capabilities.
Componentized Architecture
Modular design allowing for real-time adjustments and component swapping throughout the competition weekend.
Challenges & Solutions
Challenge: Budget & Resource Constraints
Solution: Led cost optimization initiatives that reduced project expenses by 40% while maintaining quality. Developed structured material re-use program to reduce environmental impact and cost.
Challenge: Cross-Disciplinary Team Coordination
Solution: Coordinated 30+ team members across mechanical, electrical, and software disciplines. Established clear communication protocols, milestone tracking, and coordinated sub-teams to deliver on time.
Project Outcomes & Impact
RoboRome achieved first place overall at Carnegie Mellon's Spring Carnival, along with Chairman's Choice award:
- Public Engagement: Successfully entertained hundreds of visitors over carnival weekend with zero safety incidents
- Project Leadership: Managed $15,000+ budget and delivered complex engineering project on schedule
- Team Development: Mentored junior team members and established documentation standards adopted by future teams
- Robust Design: Booth maintained full integrity and functionality despite severe thunderstorms during event