Wiimote controlled coil gun

[thecapacity]

I've been following a lot of the great projects here and thought maybe it was time to build one myself. Being more of a software guy than a EE or MechE, my previous experiences with the iobridge module have really been using it as more of a sensor platform, so this time I though I'd try to reverse the situation.

I still wanted to incorporate a unique "sensor" and I've been fascinated by a lot of the wiimote (and even the wii-fit) hacks that I've seen. So I used some Python, JSON and Javascript to link my wiimote through my computer to an iobridge servo!

Once I knew I could wave the wiimote around and control a servo I had to find something interesting to mount on it, and miraculously I had a small coilgun laying around!

I think having the ability to control embedded controller systems as web services opens up an amazing number of possibilities and hope you can think of some more uses for it!

I wrote a post so you can read bout it and see it in action;

http://blog.thecapacity.org/2009/01/13/wiimote-controlled-coil-gun/

and if anyone's got other ideas I'd love to hear about them!

[SMyers]

You've made some of the coolest projects yet!!

I also like you're a mac guy. Us mac guys aren't all artsy

[thecapacity]

Thanks SMyers!

I've already gotten some ideas from people for v2 !! Skynet should be online soon!

I'm new to the mac world but having been a long time Linux user i'm happy that it's got a command line and can let me geek out! You're right that we're not all artsy users, some of my favorite geeks have them!

[jason]

Both SMyers and I have done work in this lab:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041022104658.htm

We probably could make an ioBridge / neural-network weapon of some kind!

[SMyers]

Both SMyers and I have done work in this lab:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041022104658.htm

We probably could make an ioBridge / neural-network weapon of some kind!

I'm thinking wiimote / iobridge controlled rat.

You know we could do it

[thecapacity]

Haha, that's awesome! I've got some NN code that I could try to wire in.
Not sure what I'd want to train it on... shot me but not the dog?

[thecapacity]

Well actually I did have an idea but I don't know that I can pull off the "math".

I was thinking the wiimote could allow me to train "gestures" which I assume a NN would be able to train on. I just don't remember how to do time sensitive NN triggers.

Any clue? I figured it was too much to worry about for a while, but maybe a sharp down motion could be "take a picture" and making a circle could be "load the chamber" or stuff like that.

[iobridge]

I posted the project on ioBridge Projects:

http://www.iobridge.net/projects/2009/01/wiimote-mod-with-iobridge/

Blogroll:

Make - http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2009/01/wiimote_controlled_coil_gun.html

Hack a Day - http://hackaday.com/2009/01/14/wiimote-controlled-coil-gun/

Engadget - http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/15/wiimote-pens-coffee-cup-office-putting-toy-deadly-coil-g/

[thecapacity]

Hey,
Just a quick note in case this can help anyone in the future.
I've put a quick description of my setup & copy of my source if anyone needs;

http://blog.thecapacity.org/2009/01/16/build-your-own-iogun/

[SouthForkWeb]

This project is awesome! Would have never thought to use the Wiimote to control something with ioBridge. There really are unlimited possibilities I guess You going to get it shooting soon with the trigger?

[thecapacity]

Thanks SouthForkWeb!
I actually have an airsoft version now that is completely wired to the remote, trigger and all!
I should be posting it soon!