Tag: airsoft
Arduino/ioBridge Airsoft Target Range
by Steve Struebing on Jan.20, 2009, under technoPHILE
Indoor Airsoft Shooting Range
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL8V2lk75G4
A friend of mine who is something of an avid shooter had mentioned the lack of affordable “action” type targets. After some discussion, we determined it would be fun to build such a contraption for some indoor airsoft practice. The Arduino Diecimilia was a great choice for the “programming side” of things (I have 2 of them, he has one as well).
As a shooter, you would want to be up-range from the targets, so having something portable with a web interface was a great solution so nobody would have to be “in the line of fire”. The iPod Touch and the ioBridge module I used in another recent project. Of course, why build a custom target enclosure when I could snap one together with my Construx.

Victory! Let the fun start!
I used 3 of my hobby servos to turn the target faces. I am tightening the Construx frame to the hobby servo mount.

Building the target faces
Arduino Pin-Outs:
- Pin 13 – Debug LED
- Pin 12- Ready for Command
- Pin 11 – PWM for Servo 1
- Pin 10 – PWM for Servo 2
- Pin 9- PWM for Servo 3
- Pin 8- Incoming Command Pin (PWM from IOBridge)
- Pin 7- Command Waiting from IOBridge
- Pin 2- Peizo Speaker Control
Not to mention the ioBridge wiring, and the Servo wiring. Yeah I have a diagram or I would STILL be working on it.

A rats nest of wires for the first pass

Debugging the system
It looks a monstrosity, but once the target face is on it, I cut up some cloth as the Airsoft BB trap, it will look just fine.

All done, ready to rock!
System debugged, targets turning! Now I can call out the programs remotely using the web browser in the iTouch and let the IOBrige tell the Arduino to do my bidding.
How the Airsoft Target Range Was Built
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww8qHa7d3Mw
Arduino Source Code: Arduino-ioBridge-Airsoft-Source-Code.txt
I would say this was a fun, interesting, and rewarding project. I have also made it future-proof enough to scale up the number of targets for even more options. For those of you airsofters who don’t want your skills to dull over the winter, turn your basement into a range!
Now, should I put hay-bales on a servo platform for an indoor archery range?
Happy tinkering!
Full Video Version (Combined Demo + Instructions)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpXecFOMGCk