Mechatronic Story-telling
During the Fall 2025 semester, I enrolled in an honors seminar on storytelling through mechatronics, where I was introduced to pinball as both a mechanical system and a narrative medium by Professor Zachariah Fuchs. At first, pinball felt purely technical: ramps, orbits, and mechanisms designed to move a steel ball efficiently. However, as we explored the history of pinball machines and their evolving themes, I began to see how engineering choices directly shape player experience and storytelling.
Working in a team of three, we were challenged to design our own pinball machine, integrating theme, gameplay, and mechanical design. We chose a Mario Super Sluggers theme inspired by a game we all enjoyed growing up, which allowed us to translate nostalgia into a physical, interactive experience. This choice pushed me to think creatively about how memories, visuals, and mechanics could work together to tell a story rather than exist as separate elements.
Throughout the design process, I learned that intuition alone was not enough. Early layouts that seemed logical on paper often failed once we tested shot paths and ball movement. Iterating through multiple playfield designs taught me the importance of experimentation, patience, and being open to failure. Each unsuccessful test forced us to reassess our assumptions and collaborate more effectively, reinforcing the idea that strong engineering emerges from iteration rather than initial perfection.
Looking back, this seminar reshaped how I approach problem-solving and teamwork. Most importantly, it showed me that engineering is not just about building functional systems, but about creating experiences that connect with people. This perspective continues to influence how I approach collaborative projects and challenges beyond the classroom.
The image shown above was chosen because it is our final pinball machine and it reflects all of the hours our team shared laughing, thinking, and working towards making something we all enjoyed as kids.