OVERVIEW
My name is Joshua Peacock and I reside outside of Daytona Beach, Florida. My day job is to develop the electronic and electrical systems of carnival style games like you would see at theme parks and the fair. This includes games like Water Racer, Roll-A-Ball and Whac-A-Mole. I design the hardware, software, power systems, and harnessing (embedded systems) to make the games work according to the concept design.
I have designed standard and custom games for theme parks and arcades around the world including Universal Studios Orlando, Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Japan. Seaworld, Chuck-E-Cheese, Dave and Busters, Atlanta Braves and Ripley's Believe It or Not. Just to name a few. We have games in over 120 different countries around the world!
I have an extensive background in Embedded Systems Development. Basically, I can take an idea, and design an embedded system to make the game function according to the concept. Then I write the software for microcontrollers that control the hardware interface to make the electronics portion of the application respond to the motion control device(s) (such as motors, actuators, LED displays, and etc.) and feedback devices (such as Infra-Red sensors, mechanical switches, proximity switches and etc.) The hardware interfaces for our products include but are not limited to a printed circuit board(s) (PCB), harnessing and cabling, protection systems, motion control systems and drivers and feedback devices and drivers. The software (or firmware) is programmed in either Assembly or C.
On some projects (that are too large for me to handle alone) I will step out of the development side and move into the project management side of development. When I do this, I will design the hardware systems side of the project and then work with a third party company to assist in the software development side of the project.
PERSONAL PROJECTS
Besides designing embedded systems for the carnival games, I also like to work in other tech fields. These are including but not limited to...
Network Design and Install:
I first got into the IT field in the early 2000's setting up network systems and servers for local businesses and churches I was affiliated with. I still do freelance work in this field when a client request's it. I have designed and installed the entire network systems for local companies in my area and they are still using them to this day. One such system is a simple data and application server where user nodes will communicate with a server to share a software platform and store the data on the server. The server also had a print server installed to print data on specified printers for different task such as a label printer, receipt printer, and a contract printer. These printers where old style dot-matrix printers where I had to modify the drivers in order for the server to acknowledge the printer.
I then created small batch style programs for the client to attempt to repair any problems that may arise and if needed, I would come in and make any repairs needed (usually caused by windows system updates).
Security and CCTV (Closed Circuit Television):
A few of my clients had outdated CCTV systems that work fuzzy at best and most where not working at all. I was contracted to design, install and maintain their CCTV systems and occasionally worked with local police departments to scan the footage and export footage to be used in finding criminals and as evidence in criminal cases.
Software Development:
One of my clients purchased a pawn shop retail point of sale system to be used in their pawnshop. This software package didn't export the police file properly to be uploaded to our local sheriffs department database. I created a custom Java application that takes the exported police file and converts it the required format for the local sheriffs department database. This software is still in use today.Reverse Engineering:
I have reversed engineered printed circuit boards for companies that no longer had access to their documentation to create new or modify existing designs for there printed circuit boards. This is a time consuming process but it's allot of fun for me and I really enjoy doing this. It's also nice to see a client get excited about the new possibilities they can do with their boards now that they have the ability to make changes.
If you would like to contact me directly, visit my Contact Me page.