Using Arduino in an escape room

Hello,

I'm an arduino noob, with some theoretic background in electronics (a long time ago). My girlfriend and I are starting an Escape room in januari 2017.

In function of that Escape Room I'm in need of some advice for some puzzles and doorlocks where I intend to use an Arduino.

I would be most grateful if you could let me know if my idea's are feasible with an Arduino and if you could send me schematics in how to connect everything to the arduino or arduinos and power supplies.

First puzzle
a marble has to complete a course to pass a sensor, this sensor unlocks the electrolock (5 volt) in a door.

Second puzzle
5 objects (jars with ingredients) need to be placed on the right place on a floor with a drawing on it (a normal plank floor) , when this happens an electrolock opens. It would be preferrable if every jar has his own unique place, so reed switches are a plan B, I think. Is it possible to make this work through a floor ?

Third puzzle
is the last door. (see attachment)There is a door with 4 classic key and number locks that keep the door locked by making connection with wall and door with an eyescrew in the wall and a angle iron in the door. The electronic part is the timer that counts down from 1 hour to zero, when the contestants don't get out in time the angle irons give way from the door, thus releasing the contestants. this seems to need strong magnet locks hidden underneath the front of a door to hold the irons.

with every lock dilemma described above I wonder how long the deactivation can last, and what would be the best way to activate the locks again (when the hour is past) and I want to setup the next game.

My last dilemma that I have is not necessarily solved with an arduino, but I'm afraid it's my only option left.

To give the contestants hints I want to use an old phone (because it fits in the theme). The phone needs to ring and when picked up, to produce automatic recorded hints every 10 minutes, with the possibility to squeeze in spontaneous clues for the people who are really stuck. Because I want an authentic phone I'm a bit lost to make the old phone communicate with phone central and/or computer. So my plan B is to change the speaker in the phone and let it connect with the arduino, who on it's turn communicates with computer and pre-recorded mp3's, at least that's what I think is possible with the arduino but I don't have a clue how to make this work.

If someone could help me out with my puzzles, or point me in the right direction, I would be immensely thankful.

greetings

thomas

This looks like fun!

#1 - an optical sensor should work detecting the marble

#2 - put an RFID in each jar, and an RFID sensor under each placement position

#3 - use a keypad to enter the code of N digits

#4 - the telephone earpiece is just a transducer - and the ringer requires just volts to ring a bell - use the off hook switch to trigger to play pre-recorderd mp3 messages from an SD card after ringing the bell

#5 - dumping the contestants - a big solenoid could release a latch....

health and safety requirements not met here!

ie several little projects - solve them one by one

regards

Allan

melchett:
Hello,

To give the contestants hints I want to use an old phone (because it fits in the theme). The phone needs to ring and when picked up, to produce automatic recorded hints every 10 minutes, with the possibility to squeeze in spontaneous clues for the people who are really stuck. Because I want an authentic phone I'm a bit lost to make the old phone communicate with phone central and/or computer. So my plan B is to change the speaker in the phone and let it connect with the arduino, who on it's turn communicates with computer and pre-recorded mp3's, at least that's what I think is possible with the arduino but I don't have a clue how to make this work.

thomas

How about digital recorders/mp players in each phone you can control remotley.

http://www.miniinthebox.com/tf-card-u-disk-mp3-format-decoder-board-module-amplifier-decoding-audio-player_p4679440.html?currency=GBP&litb_from=paid_adwords_shopping&utm_source=google_shopping&utm_medium=cpc&adword_mt=&adword_ct=89613632233&adword_kw=&adword_pos=1o2&adword_pl=&adword_net=g&adword_tar=&adw_src_id=8550168004_288094633_19784783353_pla-18283950120&gclid=CI7Fq5CN1s8CFcYK0wodmbMKrg

The phone requires about 40v of AC at about 10 to 15 Hz. You can't get that from the mains, you have to use a motor driver, called a h-bridge, and feed it with a square wave signal which you can generate from an Arduino.
Back in the 60s I used to do that sort of stuff for theatrical sets. This is in the UK in the US it is similar but the patterns of rings are different.

If you have a traditional phone i would suggest you modify it with modern electronics.

The old ones use 50 V dc for the carbon mikes.
The ringer voltage is AC and could be up to 150 V depending where you are.

You could replace the bell with an ordinary doorbell - the you just have to switch dc in a pattern...

regards

Allan

with every lock dilemma described above I wonder how long the deactivation can last, and what would be the best way to activate the locks again (when the hour is past) and I want to setup the next game.

timing is simple. you can eitehr have a timer that resets if no response after some time,
a button that does a forces re-set or pretty much any means you can think of. Arduino's are execelent at doing timing as long as you are no trying to get milisecond accuracy, if you can live with being off a few seconds an hour, then a simple arduino can suffice. there are external clocks if you do want that accuracy.

To give the contestants hints I want to use an old phone (because it fits in the theme). The phone needs to ring and when picked up, to produce automatic recorded hints every 10 minutes, with the possibility to squeeze in spontaneous clues for the people who are really stuck. Because I want an authentic phone I'm a bit lost to make the old phone communicate with phone central and/or computer. So my plan B is to change the speaker in the phone and let it connect with the arduino, who on it's turn communicates with computer and pre-recorded mp3's, at least that's what I think is possible with the arduino but I don't have a clue how to make this work.

gut the handset of your phone, put in your arduino.
there are lots of speakers you can use to, or you can power the phone's earpiece.
since you are not trying to make a real phone work like a real phone, you can leave the bits in for weight and add your new stuff in the handset. all you need will fit into the handset of an old phone. and you can power it with the phone wires and even send it messages.
as for the ringer, a simple DC motor can ring the old bells. no need to use the old phone power bits.

Thanks everyone for the tips. I will have a go with this new information.