Interactive build plate

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for tracking object movement within a three-dimensional workspace. A method includes receiving, by a controller, break beam sensor data indicating object detection by a break beam sensor of a plurality of break beam sensors configured to detect objects within the workspace. The method includes receiving plate sensor data indicating object detection by a plate sensor of a plurality of plate sensors configured to detect objects resting on a surface of a plate defining a floor of the workspace. The method includes determining that an object passed through the workspace to rest at a position on the surface; comparing the position of the object to a target position of the object; and in response to determining that the position of the object does not satisfy similarity criteria for matching the target position, performing one or more actions.

1 . A system comprising:
 a plate having a surface defining a floor of a three-dimensional workspace, wherein the plate includes toy piece coupling elements and is configured to be used with releasably coupleable toy pieces;   a plurality of plate sensors configured to detect objects resting on the surface of the plate;   a plurality of break beam sensors configured to detect objects within the workspace; and   a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
 receiving break beam sensor data indicating object detection by at least one break beam sensor of the plurality of break beam sensors, 
 receiving plate sensor data indicating object detection by at least one plate sensor of the plurality of plate sensors; and 
 determining, based on the break beam sensor data and the plate sensor data, that a toy piece passed through the workspace to rest on the surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of support structures, each support structure extending from an edge of the plate in a non-parallel direction to a plane of the surface, wherein:
 each break beam sensor comprises:
 an emitter configured to emit electromagnetic radiation; and 
 a receiver configured to receive electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emitter, and 
   emitters and receivers of the plurality of break beam sensors are supported by the plurality of support structures.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each break beam sensor of the plurality of break beam sensors comprises:
 an emitter supported by a first support structure coupled to the plate; and   a receiver supported by a second support structure coupled to the plate, wherein electromagnetic energy traveling from the emitter to the receiver passes through the workspace.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of break beam sensors are arranged in an array, the break beam sensor data comprising data indicating an array address of the at least one break beam sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein receiving break beam sensor data indicating object detection by at least one break beam sensor of the plurality of break beam sensors comprises:
 receiving break beam sensor data indicating simultaneous object detection by two or more break beam sensors at a first time, the break beam sensor data comprising data indicating an array address of the two or more break beam sensors; and   based on the break beam sensor data, determining a three-dimensional coordinate location of the toy piece within the three-dimensional workspace at the first time.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the break beam sensor data comprises data indicating a time of object detection. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the break beam sensor data includes data indicating a sequence of detections, the operations comprising determining, based on the break beam sensor data, a path traveled through the workspace by the toy piece. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each plate sensor of the plurality of plate sensors is configured to detect objects resting on the surface within a respective proper subset of an area of the surface, the operations comprising:
 determining, based on the plate sensor data, a location of the toy piece on the surface, the location comprising a particular proper subset of the area of the surface.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations comprising:
 comparing a position of the toy piece on the surface to a target position of the toy piece on the surface; and   in response to determining that the position of the toy piece does not satisfy similarity criteria for matching the target position, performing one or more actions.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of:
 activating a visual alarm;   activating an audible alarm;   outputting visual instructions; or   outputting audible instructions.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plate sensors are integrated with the plate and arranged in an array. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations comprising determining, using the break beam sensor data and the plate sensor data, at least one of a size of the toy piece or a shape of the toy piece. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , the operations comprising:
 generating a visualization showing:
 a path of the toy piece through the workspace; and 
 a placement of the toy piece on the surface; and 
   providing the visualization for presentation on a display.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of break beam sensors comprise a plurality of infrared break beam sensors. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of plate sensors comprises a plurality of weight sensors, proximity sensors, or contact sensors. 
     
     
         16 . A computer-implemented method for tracking object movement within a three-dimensional workspace, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, break beam sensor data indicating object detection by at least one break beam sensor of a plurality of break beam sensors, wherein the plurality of break beam sensors is configured to detect objects within the workspace;   receiving, by the controller, plate sensor data indicating object detection by at least one plate sensor of a plurality of plate sensors, wherein the plurality of plate sensors is configured to detect objects resting on a surface of a plate that defines a floor of the workspace;   determining, by the controller and based on the break beam sensor data and the plate sensor data, that an object passed through the workspace to rest at a position on the surface;   comparing, by the controller, the position of the object on the surface to a target position of the object on the surface; and   in response to determining that the position of the object does not satisfy similarity criteria for matching the target position, performing, by the controller, one or more actions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more actions comprise at least one of:
 activating a visual alarm;   activating an audible alarm;   outputting visual instructions; or   outputting audible instructions.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising:
 obtaining data indicating a plan for a construction to be built on the plate; and   determining the target position of the object on the surface using the obtained data.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plate includes toy piece coupling elements and is configured to be used with releasably coupleable toy pieces. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations for tracking object movement within a three-dimensional workspace, the operations comprising:
 receiving, by a controller, break beam sensor data indicating object detection by at least one break beam sensor of a plurality of break beam sensors, wherein the plurality of break beam sensors is configured to detect objects within the workspace;   receiving, by the controller, plate sensor data indicating object detection by at least one plate sensor of a plurality of plate sensors, wherein the plurality of plate sensors is configured to detect objects resting on a surface of a plate that defines a floor of the workspace;   determining, by the controller and based on the break beam sensor data and the plate sensor data, that an object passed through the workspace to rest at a position on the surface;   comparing, by the controller, the position of the object on the surface to a target position of the object on the surface; and   in response to determining that the position of the object does not satisfy similarity criteria for matching the target position, performing, by the controller, one or more actions.