A virtual reality theme park ride and video game created by Cornell engineering students places the gamer on the “Star Wars” planet of Tatooine, dodging obstacles and picking up points in a pod racer. It was the yearlong project of the Intel-Cornell Cup team, which includes students from systems, electrical and mechanical engineering, computer science and others.
David R. Schneider, senior lecturer in systems engineering and the team’s faculty leader, talks about how his students researched, designed and tested the Disney-inspired, Star Wars-themed ride, which employs an Oculus Rift for a gaming interface. Developing the ride and game, he says, was a way for the students to learn systems engineering principles, from designing to testing to debugging to redesigning.