High-Level Project Summary
Our design intention is to provide students with an interactive game which can enhance their understanding of space in an innovative and engaging manner. We have succeeded in fulfilling this intention by creating a virtual reality game which enables users to utilize planetary geology tools to complete various missions set in space. This game is able to solve the brief in a unique way, since it allows future space explorers to use these various tools and understand how they work, while engaging in practical missions simulated using virtual reality. These missions enable students to apply their understanding of space exploration in a game, which helps them develop an interest in space.
Link to Project "Demo"
Link to Final Project
Detailed Project Description
The virtual reality game aims to provide students with the opportunity to explore space and utilize the various planetary geological tools. Rather than simply teaching children about these tools and space exploration as a whole, the project utilizes the magic of virtual reality to provide students with a first-hand engaging experience. After finding reference images and creating sketches of our designs, we used Blendr to create 3D CAD models of the environments of the game and the tools. We then coded the game using Unity and imported the models we developed, to produce the final game design.
Space Agency Data
We decided to look at NASA planetary geological tools to inspire the designs for the tools we would include in our game. We were particularly inspired by the designs NASA used for their space rovers, and the drills used in the Apollo mission. We then took these tools and decided to create our own innovative and futuristic versions of them, to include in the game.
Hackathon Journey
We have had an amazing Space Apps experience and this project has provided us all with the opportunity to refine our design skills. Most importantly, we were able to learn collaboration skills and work effectively within the team to produce our final product. We were inspired to choose this challenge due to the recent UAE Hope probe that landed on Mars, since we wanted to play a part in educating our peers about space exploration. Our approach to developing this project was to delegate tasks to each team member based on their academic and creative strengths, and we resolved challenges through effective communication between the team. We would like to thank our design teacher for providing us with this wonderful opportunity.
References
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/tools-astronauts-will-use-to-explore-distant-worlds
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013AcAau..90..332Y/abstract
https://pds-geosciences.wustl.edu/tools/default.htm
https://eos.org/science-updates/status-tools-data-planetary-research
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/npls13.sci.ess.earthsys.surfaces/planetary-geology-nasa-planetary-sciences/
Tags
#game, #virtualreality, #space
Global Judging
This project has been submitted for consideration during the Judging process.