Processing Arduino 0017 Zip Download To The

Once initialization has been completed, you will see a window with the picture you loaded in the sketch folder.

I built this hack with my kids: Luca and Giulio, and we had lots of fun.

The thing is controlled via mouse movements on the pc, over a window with a picture taken from the gun position.

The laser works normally in low intensity pointing mode, and when fired is much powerful.

The arduino microcontroller and the pc communicate via serial usb interface.

A custom Processing software allows mouse interaction, and enables guidance.

Parts used: Arduino 2009 board 2 light servos (I used two standard hitec hs55 8gr) 1 laser pointer (savaged from a broken toy gun) 1 breadboard (not strictly necessary) some adhesive putty (I used UHU Patafix) some wires Circuit description: black cable of both servos is connected to ground.

This is not the best platform for development, and I do not recommend such a setting.

On the pc, I installed the standard Arduino Development Environment (currently I run arduino-0017 ), with no additions.

Processing Arduino 0017 Zip Download To The

This allows to code, edit, compile and download to the Arduino board and test programs written in Wiring.

Arduino Development Environment is based on a version of Processing.

Once installed On the PC I also installed the latest Processing environment (1.0.9 in my case).

An add-on library is needed so to support the Firmata serial protocol.

This library zip file ( ) file has to be expanded and the three included directories (examples, libraries, src) must be copied to the following folder: librariesarduino Here is the software to be downloaded to the Arduino controller.

It is the standard Firmata servo template (you can find it among the included examples) with a very simple addition for managing the laser, connected on pin 11.

Additionally, I uploaded the code also on this posterous entry, and on these two scribd entries: 1 and 2.

The Processing code will have to be adapted to your environment defining the correct identifier for the USB serial interface (see at the beginning of the setup procedure), and also to define the proper name of the picture you want to display on screen while operating the laser (see setup procedure).

I suggest to use a picture resized to 800x600, taken from the place in which the laser will be put, towards the target.

The picture file has to be put in the Processing sketch directory in which you will save the project.

To access that directory just select the Sketch menu from the Processing environment, and then show sketch folder.

So you will not need to load it again unless you decide to change it.

Operation of the Laser Gun just requires you to connect the USB cable to the pc, and launch the Processing Environment.

The Firmata library is designed to bring outside of the board all its features, allowing complete control from the PC.