Our project is an enclosed sandbox in which kids can use magnets to move objects within the sandbox by dragging magnets along the underside of the bottom of the sandbox. Magnetic steel marbles would be placed inside the sandbox, along with other structures such as ramps, paths, and actuated parts that will have magnets attached to the bottom so that they can be moved around, rotated, and placed wherever inside the sandbox. There will also be permanent structures that won’t be magnetic and fixed to the bottom/sides of the box. The sandbox will essentially be something that resembles a marble ‘amusement park’, in which marbles can be transported to different ‘rides’ (which are all either manual, automated systems or activated with sensors). 

If we present our sandbox to the kids, it’s likely that more than one kid can play with it at the same time. We will leave room on both sides of the sandbox so that kids can learn to work together to build a structure for marbles to move through, play together, and also be able to create sand art with the marbles.

Technical measures:

  • Size: W 30in, H 15in, L 30in
  • Material: Transparent acrylic + Wood +3d print
    • Box will be made with wood frame + acrylic panels
    • Most contraptions inside the box will be mainly wood wil additional 3d printed if needed
  • Physical principles: Manipulation of objects through magnets. Most contraptions should have parts that can be manipulated with magnets besides just putting the marbles in