Candy Camera Game

In a world where traditional Halloween trick-or-treating has faced decline due to safety concerns and changing social dynamics, Candicam brings a fresh and exciting way to celebrate. Our interactive candy dispenser merges classic Halloween spirit with innovative technology to create a memorable experience for kids and adults alike. Candicam is a voice-activated device that rewards users based on the enthusiasm of their "Trick or Treat!" shouts, using a playful combination of candy dispensing and a built-in photo booth. For an added twist, it requires candy as "payment" before gameplay begins, making every encounter a fun gamble for more treats, a surprise photo, or nothing.

This unique, gamified approach revitalizes Halloween traditions by offering a safe, contactless, and entertaining alternative that appeals to the young and the young-at-heart. Candicam is here to capture not only candy but also smiles, bringing Halloween fun to a new level and encouraging community engagement in a way that’s both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

Hardware Components

1. Arduino Uno Board – microcontroller to control all interactions.
2. Voice Sensor Module – to detect and measure the volume of the "Trick or Treat!" shout.
3. VEX Motors – for the candy dispensing mechanism.
4. Polaroid Camera Module – to capture and print photos of users.
5. Candy Dispenser Mechanism (3D printed) – chute or container with controlled release for dispensing candy.
6. LED Display or Screen – to show prompts, feedback, or game results.
7. Power Supply – to power all components.
8. Infrared Sensor – to detect when a piece of candy is put in.

Structural and Decorative Elements

1. Wooden Boards – for creating a front panel or enclosure.
2. Sticker/Wrap – to make the device spooky and visually appealing.
3. Polaroid Film Cartridges – for the photo booth feature.
4. Candy Containers – for holding the candy supply.

Wiring and Connectivity

1. Jumper Wires – for connecting components.
2. PCB – for organizing the wiring layout. (Gerber File is attached)
3. USB Cable – for programming and powering the Arduino Uno board.

Software Requirements

1. Arduino IDE (or compatible software for the Arduino Uno) – to program the board.
2. Voice Recognition and Sound Processing Libraries – for detecting voice volume.
3. Game Logic Script – to handle the candy reward system, random outcomes, and interactivity.

There are a couple core components that you would need for this project

For electrical components, you would need a Arduino or equivalent.

You also need a 12V DC adapter, and a breadboard/pcb(design is attached on previous section) to put all the components onto.

For physical components, you would need to 3D print the following files.

You would also need 5 wooden boards.

60x48 cm

x2 60x20.5 cm

x2 40x20.5 cm

Here you can code the logic required to make the candy dispenser work, attached is my code, but you can code it yourself.

You can also find videos of the three conditions(Tricked-no candy, Treat-more candy, and Polaroid) working with physical Arduino electronics.

Use a soldering iron to solder all the electrical connections required from the Arduino to the PCB. Make sure the H-bridge, and the relay are properly wired.

You can find a video of the wired PCB below.

You need to make 5 cuts on the 60x48cm board. One hole at the very top for the lcd screen. One hole at the top for the polaroid camera, one hole on the side for the candy insertion, one small circular hole for the audio sensor, and finally one hole at the bottom for the candy output.

Assemble everything with hot glue and screws, drill out holes as needed.

Wrap the front using a sticker/custom wrap and plug in the 9V DC adapter

You can now place this contraption in front of your house for Halloween fun! Watch as the kids in your neighborhood try and win candy or a polaroid!