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Laser Puzzle

Colorful laser alignment game suitable for all ages!

This is one of our favorites. The concept is simple: there are 3 colors of lasers, and players must move around optics to get the lasers where they need to go (see diagram). There are other examples of games similar to this (e.g. Laser Maze and in Portal 2), but ours has its own distinct feel. The requirement that light go straight into the detectors adds substantial challenge and complexity; the table-top size combined with the form factor of the optics also makes it feel a lot more like aligning “real” optics. Once the pieces have been made for this demo, there are a practically infinite number of puzzles that can be prepared (the diagram shows only one example - we have about 15-20 in our records). Getting the full guide, including CAD models and full build instructions, for this out is one of our top priorities, so check back frequently and it should be here soon!

Two views of the same tabletop puzzle board, unsolved and solved. Red, green and blue lasers and detectors of matching colors sit at fixed positions, with orange barriers between them. Players move one-sided mirrors, a two-sided mirror and a prism to steer each beam straight into its matching detector; the objective is to activate all 3 detectors at the same time. Rules: lasers and detectors are fixed; mirrors and prisms can be moved anywhere; a detector only responds to its own color of laser, and only if the light enters it straight-on.
Budget
$100–$1000
Required tools
3–8
Manufacturing difficulty
5–6
Alignment difficulty
2
Portability
4
Setup time
4–6
Presentation complexity
1–8
Concept complexity
3–5
WOW factor
8
What do these scores mean? →
UCSD students solve the laser puzzle at an Optics Hour event.
An elementary school student tries out an early prototype of the laser puzzle under the supervision of a Photonics Society member.
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Opportunities for improvement

  • Full guide coming soon!