Project leader : Jocelyn Chanussot
Associated organizations : Lynred, Polytech Grenoble – INP, UGA
Project objective : Takeover of the principle and improvement of an escape game designed to democratize infrared technologies
Related publication : code, circuits, manual and project report
Description :
This project is part of a challenge presented during the “L'Enquête Pélican” escape game at Tech&Fest 2024. The aim is to find one or more infrared codes on a matrix of lamps placed at the bottom of a box. The lamps forming the code(s) are lit when the box is closed, and go out when the box is opened, forcing players to use a thermal camera to see which lamps have heated up when lit. The project team has improved the initial test by starting from scratch to overcome the various problems. The idea is to make it modular and usable in a wide range of escape game situations.
The light bulb game is a continuation of the “Pelican Investigation” project, as a first version of it was created for this escape game. The aim of this test is to offer a fun experience to introduce the public to infrared technologies. To solve the challenge, players will need to understand the principles of infrared radiation.
Game principle
The game takes the form of a box and a digicode, which can be placed to lock a door or activate another system. Inside the box is a panel of light bulbs whose shape is taken up by the buttons on the digicode. Players discover that when the box is closed, some of the bulbs are on, and that when the box is open, all the bulbs go out. Players then have to understand that a lit bulb heats up and stays hot for a while, making it possible to find out which bulbs have been lit by passing them through the infrared (thermal) camera.
By reading this code, players understand that, as it is displayed on a 3*5 light-bulb board, it must be entered on the digicode box located in the room. Once the code has been entered, it triggers an event enabling the game to continue (opening a door, a chest, discovering a clue, etc.).
To spice up the challenge, logic formulas can be given to solve in other tests. The box can then display two different codes in succession, which players have to note down and link to other formulas found in the room to solve the test.
Practical additions
To enable this challenge to be integrated into any escape game, a web interface accessible from outside the room was created. This allows players to change codes, game modes or view the code entered on the digicode, potentially giving them clues.
