Heart Structure Learning Game

Background Information

The heart is a complicated organ but basically controls our lives, and it plays a huge role in the circulatory system, it is required for kids at school to learn about the heart during biology classes. However, the route of how red blood cells are pumped from the superior vena cava ➡️ right atrium ➡️ tricuspid valve ➡️ right ventricle ➡️ pulmonary valve ➡️ pulmonary artery ➡️ lungs ➡️ pulmonary veins ➡️ left atrium ➡️ bicuspid valve ➡️ left ventricle ➡️ aortic valve ➡️ aorta, and all parts of our body, which is long and hard to memorize, right?

In this game, marbles are representing the red blood cells that pump through our hearts, by moving the marbles through the heart model, students will become more familiar with the heart system.

The Goal of the Game

The goal of the game is to move the marbles(red blood cells) from the starting point(superior vena cava) through the heart and until the aorta.

Tools
Hot glue

Sharp-Blade Knife

Ruler

Pencil

Hole puncher

Materials

board

Arduino (Any board type)

USB cable

Breadboard

Jumper wires

2 servo motor 9g

Joystick module

2 screws & nuts

Swit

The first picture shows the structure of the heart, I first drew the picture on it, and then I decided to attach one motor on its x-axis. However, it is not possible for a square to support the x and y-axis at the same time. Therefore, a supporting square is created. The third picture shows the final sketch of the product.

Picture from: https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/anatomia-del-corazon/

1. Cut one 20cm x 20cm board as the base

2. Cut two base 15 cm and 13cm height 15 cm trapezoid

3. Cut four 3cm x 18cm as for the support in the interior of the maze

4. Cut one 15cm x 15cm board as the square for the maze

5. Cut four 3cm x 15cm board as the outer wall for the maze

6. Some cardboard strip with the measure of 2cm

1. Draw a picture of the structure of the human heart on the 15cm x 15cm board. (pic 1)

2. Stick the strip of cardboard with the height of 2cm on the board as the borders on the different parts of the heart, remember and make sure the borders follow the route. (pic 2)

3. Stick the 15cm x 3cm board at the four sides of the 15cm x 15cm board as the outer border, poke a hole in the middle on one of the sides. (pic 3)

4. Stick the 18cm x 3 cm together, poke one hole in the middle of the board on two adjacent sides, create a 1.5cm x 0.5cm square at the middle of the adjacent side to the hole, we want to put the motor in. (pic 3,4)

5. Assemble the board with the heart to the 18cm x 3 cm square, connect one side with the screw and nut, connect the opposite side with the motor. (pic 5,6)

6. Poke a hole on one side of the trapezoid, cut a 1.5cm x 0.5cm square on the other trapezoid. (pic 7)

7. Stick the two trapezoids to the 20cm x 20cm board as the base

8. Assemble the base and 18cm x 3 cm supporting square one side with the screw and nut the opposite side with the motor. (pic 8)

9. Assemble the 15cm x 15cm board to the base and supporting square again

10. Done!

1. Arduino 5V and GND to the breadboard

2. Arduino Pin 8 to servo 1 (X-axis) and Pin 9 to servo 2 (Y-axis) (the white wire)

3. Two servos' black wire to -

4. Two servos' red wire to +

5. Arduino Pin A0 to Joystick VRx and Arduino Pin A1 to Joystick VRyJoystick, 5V and GND to the + and -

1. Open Arduino

2. Upload the following code to the sketch section

3. Connected your Arduino board to the PC using the USB cable

4. Click to upload the code

(you can use the ino file or the link below that leads to the Arduino website)

https://create.arduino.cc/editor/melody_lo/3846d37...

To improve the looking of the maze, stick the joy-con to the base, and then cover the front and the back by sticking two rectangles. Remember to make sure that you can plug the USB cable in.

Try out your maze!

Tips

1. You want to make sure the board that you're using is thick enough to support the structure.

2. The size of the supporting square might be different according to your motor, you want to make sure the size is capable for your situation before you glue them on

3. Be careful with all of the tools, including the hot glue gun and knife.

Reminders

The red blood cells didn't end their journey in the aorta, it is pumped and flow to all parts of our body then after it gave its oxygen out, it flows back to the superior vena cava and starts all over again.