The Waterloo W
Cowboy Engineering since 2008
Cowboy Engineering since 2008
The interns show off their final project, creating a real playable version of Mario Kart with a functional item system. Check out how we rigged up our system with servos, pneumatics, and wireless communication to make a real playable version of one of our all-time favorite games!
Huge thanks to the engineers (and go kart tracks) that made this one possible:
Ben James
Fred Visser
Our favorite track in ATX!
Tim Lynch
Humphrey Huang
Dylan Caswell
Peter Gaylor
Chris J. Culver
Hunter Smith
Unfortunately we were only able to rig up the karts temporarily at Austin’s Park in Austin, TX, so there is no permanent setup. Our goal is to inspire others to create their own systems. We'd be happy to help you build your own, just contact us.
For the banana item, we used plastic fruit and duct taped the RFID card inside the bunch. The first car to come into range with the RFID must hold the item in their kart for two seconds in order for it to be activate. Once the bananas are activated, the next kart to come into range will have the steering locked to one side using a hydraulic piston.
Tim is from New Jersey. He talks funny. What are you going to do?
Yes, each player drives their own kart like in a normal race. Each item gives a bonus or punishment. For instance, the mushroom unlocked 100% throttle (normally 75%) for five seconds, and the bananas lock your steering to one side for three seconds.