Rachel Barnes Engineering Portfolio
Battle Back
Challenge Description:
This challenge is for players who were previously voted out. The winner claims their spot back in the game and competes to be the sole survivor.
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This challenge works because each player must balance a marble on the groove of a cylinder. If the ball drops, then the player is out of the challenge and will not make it back into the game. There are three rounds to the challenge. The first round simply balances the starting cylinder between two handles, lasting 2 minutes. The next round adds a 3" cylinder to each side of the starting cylinder. This round lasts 2 minutes. The final round adds a 2" cylinder to each side and goes until only one player is remaining. The last player remaining wins the challenge and returns back into the game.
Inspiration:
This challenge was performed on the CBS Survivor show. Members of the Survivor Northeastern Production team wanted to run this challenge and buy it online. To buy 3 sets on this challenge on etsy, it would cost approxiamtely 400 dollars.
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Instead of deploited half of the challenge design budget for one challenge, I decieded to source the materials myself and build the challenge from scratch for about 40 dollars total. Click the button below to see a clip of this challenge being ran on CBS Survivor.
Skills Learned:
3D Printing, Product Design, Woodworking
Handle
I designed handles for this challenge on SolidWorks using surface modeling features. This amplified the aesthetic of the design while also keeping it smooth to the touch to ensure it is comfortable in players hands. I learned that surface features can easily increase the complexity of a design.
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Base Peice
Using SolidWorks, I designed and printed the base for the challenge. I measured the diameter of the marbles I had in stock. Using that value, I picked out the width and depth of the slot so that it would allow the marble to smoothly manuever along the cylinder.​​
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Full Assembly
To finish off the design, I ordered wooden dowels for the additional pieces. Using woodworking tools, I cut pieces that were 2" and some that were 3". I sanded the ends to ensure that they were smooth and within +/- .1" of the intended length. This creates all sets equal for each player, for a longer cylinder or a cylinder with a rougher face can offset the difficulty. I then painted the ends to emulate the CBS Survivor Challenge.
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Lastly, I 3D printed a platform so that players could pick up the cylinders without their hand or the handle interfering with the table.
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Challenge Video
Watch the video below to see the final leg of this challenge, and to find out who gets back into the game!
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