Candy Cane Conundrum
Station Build Specifications
For: Brett (Hardware Build)
Purpose: This document specifies the hardware requirements for all 8 Candy Cane Conundrum stations. Use this as your build guide for creating the button panels, displays, Arduino controllers, and candy cane tubes.
Station Configuration Overview
Total Stations: 8
- 2 PRIMARY SYSTEMS stations (4 buttons each)
- 2 SECONDARY SYSTEMS stations (4 buttons each)
- 2 ADVANCED SYSTEMS stations (8 buttons each)
- 2 MASTER CONTROL stations (8 buttons each)
Shared Components (all stations):
- Giant illuminated candy cane tube with controllable LEDs
- Display screen for challenge instructions
- Arduino controller
- Button panel (variable count per difficulty)
- Power supply
Button Panel Specifications
PRIMARY SYSTEMS & SECONDARY SYSTEMS Stations (4 buttons each)
Button Count: 4 buttons per station
[Button 1] [Button 2] [Button 3] [Button 4]
RED GREEN BLUE YELLOW
Button Requirements:
- 4 physical push buttons with LED backlighting
- Each button labeled with color name
- LED colors: RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW
- Tactile feedback when pressed
- Durable for 30 shows of repeated pressing
Dimensions:
- Button size: 2-3 inches diameter (large enough for kids and adults)
- Panel layout: Horizontal row or 2×2 grid
- Button spacing: 1-2 inches between buttons
ADVANCED SYSTEMS & MASTER CONTROL Stations (8 buttons each)
Button Count: 8 buttons per station
Row 1 (Top):
[Button 1] [Button 2] [Button 3] [Button 4]
RED GREEN BLUE YELLOW
THICK THICK THICK THICK
Row 2 (Bottom):
[Button 5] [Button 6] [Button 7] [Button 8]
RED GREEN BLUE YELLOW
THIN THIN THIN THIN
Button Requirements:
- 8 physical push buttons with LED backlighting
- Each button labeled with color name (RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW) and stripe pattern indicator (THICK or THIN)
- LED colors: RED, GREEN, BLUE, YELLOW (duplicate colors, distinguish by position)
- Tactile feedback when pressed
- Buttons must be able to light up individually (for memory sequences)
- Durable for 30 shows of repeated pressing
Visual Stripe Pattern Indicators:
• Option A: Print thick/thin stripe icons next to color labels
• Option B: Use different button textures (ribbed vs smooth)
• Option C: Different button shapes (round vs square)
• Recommendation: Print stripe pattern icons (simplest, clearest)
Dimensions:
- Button size: 2-3 inches diameter
- Panel layout: 2 rows × 4 columns
- Button spacing: 1-2 inches between buttons
- Row spacing: 2-3 inches between top and bottom rows
Display Screen Specifications
All Stations Need:
- Screen size: 7-10 inches diagonal (readable from 3-4 feet away)
- Resolution: Minimum 480×320 pixels
- Text size: Large font (18-24pt minimum)
- Brightness: Readable in varied lighting conditions
Display Content by Difficulty
| Difficulty |
Display Requirements |
| PRIMARY SYSTEMS |
Challenge title: "THE TOY BUILDING ORDER"
Instructions (4-5 lines of text)
No graphics required |
| SECONDARY SYSTEMS |
Challenge title: "THE GIFT COUNT"
Instructions (5-6 lines of text)
List of 4 rooms and colors |
| ADVANCED SYSTEMS |
Challenge title: "THE HIDDEN TREASURES"
Instructions (6-8 lines of text)
List of 5 objects to find |
| MASTER CONTROL |
Phase 1: Production Line instructions (6-8 lines)
Phase 2: Memory challenge prompts
Display states: Phase 1 instructions, "PHASE 1 COMPLETE!" transition, "ROUND 1/2/3: Watch carefully...", "MASTER CODE CRACKED!" success screen |
Recommended Display Types:
• LCD display with Arduino library support
• OLED display (better contrast)
• Small touchscreen (not necessary, but could be useful for future features)
Candy Cane Tube LED System
All 8 Stations Need:
- Giant decorative candy cane tube (height TBD based on room design)
- LED strip or bulbs inside tube
- Controllable colors:
- GREEN for correct sequence
- RED for incorrect sequence
- Optional: WHITE/OFF for idle state
LED Requirements:
- Brightness: Visible across room (success/failure indicator)
- Color accuracy: Clear distinction between green and red
- Response time: Light up immediately upon sequence validation
- Duration: Hold color for 3-5 seconds, then reset
- Power: Adequate wattage for tube size
Candy Cane Tube Design:
- Vintage industrial aesthetic (matches factory theme)
- Translucent material for LED visibility
- Securely mounted (won't tip if bumped)
- Cable management for LED wiring
Arduino Controller Specifications
All Stations Need:
- Arduino board (Uno, Mega, or equivalent)
- Sufficient I/O pins for:
- PRIMARY/SECONDARY: 4 button inputs + 4 button LEDs + screen + candy cane LEDs
- ADVANCED/MASTER: 8 button inputs + 8 button LEDs + screen + candy cane LEDs
- Memory requirements:
- PRIMARY/SECONDARY: Minimal (simple sequence validation)
- Hard: Moderate (store 5-button solution)
- Expert: Higher (store three 3-, 5-, and 7-button sequences)
Power Supply:
- Adequate amperage for button LEDs (4-8 LEDs), display screen, candy cane tube LEDs, and Arduino board
- Estimate: 5V 3-5A supply per station
- Backup power option recommended (prevent mid-game resets)
Wiring:
- Clean cable management
- Secure connections (withstand 30 shows)
- Easy access for troubleshooting
- Labeled wires for each component
Station Layout Recommendations
[Candy Cane Tube]
|
|
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Display Screen │
└───────────────────────┘
│
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Button Panel │
│ [1] [2] [3] [4] │
│ (or 8 buttons) │
└───────────────────────┘
│
┌───────────────────────┐
│ Arduino + Power │
│ (hidden/enclosed) │
└───────────────────────┘
Height Considerations:
- Button panel: 36-42 inches from floor (accessible to kids and adults)
- Display screen: 48-54 inches from floor (eye level)
- Candy cane tube: Above display, visible across room
Footprint:
- Compact footprint (12-18 inches wide × 12 inches deep)
- Stable base (won't tip)
- Wall-mounted or freestanding pedestal options
Station Identification
Each station must be clearly labeled:
- Easy Stations: "EASY" or Level 1 sign
- Medium Stations: "MEDIUM" or Level 2 sign
- Hard Stations: "HARD" or Level 3 sign
- Expert Stations: "EXPERT" or Level 4 sign
Visual Differentiation:
• Color-coded signs (green=easy, yellow=medium, orange=hard, red=expert)
• Icon system (1 star, 2 stars, 3 stars, 4 stars)
• Clear, readable from across room
Station Quantity and Duplicate Stations
Why 2 stations per difficulty:
- Reduces wait times (multiple players can play simultaneously)
- Provides backup if one station has technical issues
- Both stations of same difficulty are IDENTICAL (same challenge, same solution)
Example: Easy Station A and Easy Station B both show "The Toy Building Order" challenge. Both use same solution (GREEN → BLUE → RED → YELLOW). Players can choose either station, experience is identical.
Build Priority
Phase 1 (Minimum Viable Product):
- Build 2 Easy stations (simplest, 4 buttons, test hardware)
- Build 1 Medium station (same hardware as Easy, different challenge)
Phase 2 (Full Implementation):
- Build remaining Medium station
- Build 2 Hard stations (8 buttons, more complex)
- Build 2 Expert stations (8 buttons + memory sequences)
Testing Requirements
Each station must be tested for:
- Button responsiveness (all buttons register presses)
- LED functionality (all button LEDs light up correctly)
- Display screen (all text readable, displays cycle correctly)
- Candy cane tube (green and red lights work)
- Sequence validation (correct sequence lights green, incorrect lights red)
- Auto-reset (station resets after timeout or completion)
- Durability (simulate 50+ button presses)
Expert Stations Additional Testing:
- Phase 1 to Phase 2 transition works
- Memory sequences display correctly (buttons light sequentially)
- Round progression (Round 1 → 2 → 3)
- Retry logic (failed round retries same round, not full reset)
Materials and Sourcing
| Component |
Details |
Quantity |
Est. Cost |
| Button Components |
Arcade-style LED push buttons (eBay, Amazon, Adafruit)
$3-8 per button |
48 total buttons |
$150-400 |
| Display Screens |
7-10 inch LCD/OLED displays with Arduino support
$15-40 per screen |
8 screens |
$120-320 |
| Arduino Boards |
Arduino Uno or Mega clones
$10-25 per board |
8 boards |
$80-200 |
| LED Strips for Candy Canes |
Addressable RGB LED strips (WS2812B or similar)
$10-20 per station |
8 stations |
$80-160 |
| Candy Cane Tubes |
PVC pipe, acrylic tubes, or custom fabrication
Translucent white material
$15-40 per tube |
8 tubes |
$120-320 |
| Power Supplies |
5V 3-5A power supplies
$10-15 per supply |
8 supplies |
$80-120 |
| Enclosures and Pedestals |
Custom-built or off-the-shelf enclosures
Wood/metal pedestals for freestanding stations
$30-80 per station |
8 stations |
$240-640 |
| Wiring, Connectors, Misc. |
Jumper wires, connectors, solder, heat shrink, cable management |
- |
$50-100 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED BUILD COST |
$920 - $2,260 |
Cost-Saving Options:
• Use cheaper Arduino clones
• Source buttons from bulk suppliers
• 3D print button housings and enclosures
• Repurpose existing materials for candy cane tubes
• Build pedestals from scrap wood
Timeline Estimate
Per Station Build Time:
- PRIMARY/SECONDARY: 4-6 hours (simpler, 4 buttons)
- ADVANCED/MASTER: 6-8 hours (more complex, 8 buttons + memory logic)
Total Build Time (all 8 stations):
- Hardware assembly: 40-50 hours
- Arduino programming: 10-15 hours
- Testing and debugging: 10-15 hours
- Total: 60-80 hours
Recommended Build Schedule:
- Week 1: Build 2 Easy stations, test
- Week 2: Build 2 Medium stations, test
- Week 3: Build 2 Hard stations, test
- Week 4: Build 2 Expert stations, test
- Week 5: Full system integration testing, room setup