DIY Laser Tag

[baucat9]

Hi EP. I am trying to make a laser tag system to use at home with some buddies. My original intent was to have the system function like a laser tag center, but that is neither feasible at my skill level or financially. I have decided to simplify it to this. A player has so many lives. Every time they are shot=deduction of 1 life. Once they run out of lives, they are out. I would like to have 4 laser sensors: 1 on each shoulder, 1 on the front, and 1 on the back. The vest does not need to be connected to the gun, allowing the gun to be seperate. I would like a piezo buzzer to go off every time you are hit as well. I want LEDs at the hit points so that in the dark other players can see them. I'd also like these LEDs to blink when a person has less than half of their lives left. Aside from this, I have an optional feature I'd like to add if possible financially and and skill wise:
- the vest goes off for 4 seconds after a person is shot. This doesn't allow people to shoot someone multiple times.

What I am asking for:
I have a fair experience with electronics, so I will be able to follow you somewhat when you are talking to me. I may have some questions though. Parts suggestions and approaches to both making the hit point vest and laser gun are greatly appreciated. I can design basic circuits, so I might need some help. Be patient with me please, I'm young and trying to learn.

Edit: I've have no experience with programming Arduino or similar microchips. I do however understand the functions of preprogrammed chips. If Arduino, etc. is heavily suggested, I am going to need someone to baby me through it sadly.

Thanks for reading,
Shane

 

[(*steve*)]

several things to consider:

you need to modulate the laser. You could use a single modulation, one per team, or even one per weapon.

with a modulated signal you can design a far simpler and sensitive input circuit.

All of the processing can be done on a microcontroller.

also consider that your weapon should stop when you're dead. Unless you want an attack of the zombies

 

[baucat9]

several things to consider:

you need to modulate the laser. You could use a single modulation, one per team, or even one per weapon.

with a modulated signal you can design a far simpler and sensitive input circuit.

All of the processing can be done on a microcontroller.

also consider that your weapon should stop when you're dead. Unless you want an attack of the zombies

What do you mean by microcontroller? How can you modulate a laser? This is some areas I might need some fair to heavy guidance on. And yea I know about the attack of the zombies thing. I didn't know how easy it would be to do though. If it's easy, I'd love to shut down the gun too when someone is shot.

 

[(*steve*)]

A microcontroller is essentially a small computer on a chip that you program to do clever stuff like interpret the readings from sensors, count "hits" and control flashing lights etc.

 

[(*steve*)]

oh, and modulation meant (in this context) turning the laser on amd off very quickly (perhaps tens of thousands of times per second) in a pattern which can be recognised.

 

[donkey]

http://www.instructables.com/id/Duino-Tagger/
I hate posting to other sites, but this guy did alot of the work, the only thing you have to incorporate is the modulation and team based system.
it includes everything from the micro used through to the wiring diagrams and coding. personally I would make a predator shoulder cannon with eye tracking but.... you know I am a super geek

 

[BobK]

The microcontroller can do everything you want to do. To do it without a microcontroller would take maybe 10 logic chips, so the microcontroller is way simpler than discrete logic to build this. The other advantage is that all the behavior is controlled by a program that can be changed at will with no changes to the actual circuit.


Bob