Tag: project
Motion Feedback MP3 Trigger
by Steve Struebing on Apr.07, 2010, under technoPHILE
I posted over at Instructables a project that uses the Parallax PIR Motion Sensor (yes, it IS that same I used in the Halloween Hack, ye of the clan Observant) to encourage me to be working out. If I am, then I am rewarded with some tunes to keep moving along. However, if I am lazy and take a breather…well….. “No Snoop For You!”
The Parts List:
- SparkFun MP3 Trigger
- IO-204 Control Module
- Parallax PIR Motion Sensor
- PC Speakers
- Coffee Tin
- Drill
- 6xMachine Screws, and 12xNuts
Key objectives here:
- Try out the SparkFun MP3 Trigger
- Finally get a project into an enclosure that I think will be good for other people’s projects (this could be the next Altoids contender?)
- Delve into “Onboard Rules” functions of the IO-204 while offline

If you want more details, head over to the Instructables post.
Here is the project enclosure. Admit it, you love you some Maker’s Notebook, too, don’t you? The MP3 Trigger sits snug as a bug in a rug with the machine screws and nuts anchoring it in place. 2 additional ones hold the PIR Motion Sensor to the front of the tin. Getting the larger hole in the front and back was tricky because I did not have a great pair of snips around. I’ll know for next time! I did manage to wear through several Dremmel bit tips in my stubbornness of using the wrong tool for the job.

Here she be all wired up. Note, she AIN’T wired to the LAN, so this is using the “Onboard Rules” feature. If I did want to datalog the session, I would have to plug in to my router (which in this case really is not more than 10 feet away).

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