Candypult--Computer Controlled Candy Catapult

Let's start with the parts list and schematic.

Parts:
Arduino
(2) Hitec HS-311 servo motors (Amazon.com)
(1) Hitec HS-645MG servo motor (high torque)--Amazon.com
(1) mini Servo YKS SG90 (Amazon.com)
(1) Two channel remote control toy--I got a car for $11.99 at a local pharmacy
(3) 5 volt relays--Jameco.com #139977 (these are polarized so that positive voltage on one coil lead causes it to pick up, but the other polarity doesn't; you can produce the same result with a 5 volt relay and a diode.  Relays "B" and "C" only operate one at a time--based on the polarity provided.)
1/4" x 3 1/4" x .025 spring (available at Lowes)
(6) 12" servo extension cables
Spring from a ballpoint pen
4" lazy susan http://www.amazon.com/Capacity-Bearing-Turntable-Bearings-VXB/dp/B002TIKEQ6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1372692771&sr=8-2&keywords=lazy+susan+4+inch
9 volt, 500 ma DC power supply
6 volt, 1 amp DC power supply
3D printed parts, design and print files at:
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:110350
Wood, screws,paint, wire, jumpers

Start with a 17" x 18" x 1/2 inch piece of plywood.  Paint it red.  Cut yellow circles from a craft foam sheet and glue them randomly to the board (leaving spaces where things will be mounted).

Take a 4" x 15" x 1/2 inch piece of plywood and paint it orange.  Diagonally wrap painters tape to make the stripes.

Insert a servo motor into the rotating base plate.

Drill holes and secure the servo with 2-56 x 1/2" machine screws.

Add a lazy susan bearing (4 inch) to the base using 4-40 x 3/4" machine screws.

Bolt the ends to the rotating base.

Insert the servo horn onto the servo motor on the rotating base.  Drill two holes through the base to match where #4 x 1/2" wood screws will be used to fasten the servo to the wood base.

Be certain that the servo and horn assembly is in one of the extreme positions and is capable of rotating where you want it to go before fastening screws through the holes.

Secure wood base to rotating platform using (4) 6-32 x 1 1/2" machine screws. Attach the catapult guide using wood screws.

Add the catapult stop using wood screws.

Insert a 1/4" diameter wood dowel through the catapult arm.

Secure the spring to the catapult lever using wire (I used magnet wire).

Add a 3" long bolt to the stop tower.

Attach the other end of the spring to the servo horn extender (printed piece) using magnet wire.

Attach the servo horn extender to the servo horn using magnet wire.

Place the high torque servo motor in a motor base (printed) and fasten that to the catapult board with machine screws.

Attach the latch servo to the latch servo mount (printed) and screw the assembly to the catapult base.

Drill a 3/8" hole in the catapult wood base.

Using wire guides (printed) bring the servo cables through the wood base.

Take a servo horn and the spring from a ballpoint pen. Attach the spring to the horn using magnet wire--this extends the reach of the servo "candy pusher."

Super glue the servo motor holder to the candy tower.

Using the "Candy" base and the adapter (printed), friction fit the candy tower assembly to the "Candy" support base.

Things may get messy, just keep working.

Add the "anti-escape guide" to the candy tower (friction fit).

Take apart your remote control toy.

Save the spare pieces for a future project.

There should be two wires from the battery, one to the antenna, and four to the motors controlled.

Slide the antenna through the printed antenna holder.

Place the receiver electronics on the electronics mount (printed) and attach it and the antenna to the main plywood board.

Wire everything together according to the schematic.

Note the use of servo extension cords and a wire guide to protect the wires that move through the rotation process.

Add the power supplies, software and Hershey's miniature candy and give it a try!

Software:

#include <Servo.h>

Servo candy;

Servo rotate;

Servo latch;

Servo spring;

 

int fire=2;

int right=4;

int left=6;

int val=0;

int val1=0;

int val2=0;

int val3=0;

 

 

void setup()

{pinMode(fire,INPUT);

pinMode(right,INPUT);

pinMode(left,INPUT);

candy.attach(13);

rotate.attach(12);

latch.attach(8);

spring.attach(7);

rotate.write(45);

delay(500);

rotate.write(30);

latch.write(60);

spring.write(200);

candy.write(25);

candy.write(140);

delay(500);

candy.write(25);

 

}

 

void loop()

 

  {

   

    val=digitalRead(left);

    val1=digitalRead(right);

    val2=digitalRead(fire);

   

    if(val==HIGH or val1==HIGH or val2==HIGH)

    {

      if (val==HIGH)

      {val3=(val3+5);}

      if (val3>=145)

      {

        val3=(val3-5);

      }

      if (val3<65)

      {

        val3=65;

      }

      rotate.write(val3);

      delay(50);

    }

    else

    

    val=digitalRead(left);

    val1=digitalRead(right);

    val2=digitalRead(fire);

    

    if(val1==HIGH)

    {val3=(val3-5);

    if(val3<65)

    {val3=(val3+5);

    }

    rotate.write(val3);

    delay(50);

    }

    else

    if(val2==HIGH)

    {spring.write(50);

  delay(1000);

  latch.write(200);

  delay(1000);

  spring.write(200);

  delay(500);

  latch.write(60);

  delay(1000);

  rotate.write(50);

  delay(500);

  rotate.write(30);

  candy.write(140);

  delay(500);

  candy.write(25);

  val3=0;

    }}

 

 

If you're here, you must want to do things the hard way.  Let's adapt the machine to respond to the clap of hands--left, middle or right.

This is about 60% reliable, so more work needs to be done (probably in shielding the microphones).

The concept is this--when a loud sound arrives, it will probably be louder at the microphone pointed in the direction of the sound.

This requires amplifiers; I used a simple one transistor model.

Microphones are Jameco #320179

Sound has to be picked up with an emphasis on direction.  I should have made the cones larger, shielded them more from stray sounds and mounted the microphones on felt rather than the plastic ring.

I mounted the microphones at the top of a 16 inch high tube.

In a room without a lot of people and clutter, I can achieve very high accuracy; but I think the machine trained me instead of the other way around.


Software:

#include <Servo.h>

Servo candy;

Servo rotate;

Servo latch;

Servo spring;

 

int led2=3;

int val2=0;

int ledcenter=6;

 

int ledPin=5;

int valm=0;

int val1=0;

void setup()

{pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);

pinMode(led2,OUTPUT);

pinMode(ledcenter,OUTPUT);

candy.attach(13);

rotate.attach(12);

latch.attach(8);

spring.attach(7);

rotate.write(45);

delay(500);

rotate.write(30);

latch.write(60);

spring.write(200);

candy.write(25);

candy.write(140);

delay(500);

candy.write(25);

 

}

 

void loop()

{

  valm=analogRead(0);

  val2=analogRead(3);

  val1=analogRead(1);

 if(valm>400 || val1>400 || val2>400)

 

 

 

 

  //val1=val1-60;

    {if(valm>val2 && valm>val1)

  {digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

  rotate.write(130);

  delay(500);

  rotate.write(145);

  spring.write(50);

  delay(1000);

  latch.write(200);

  delay(1000);

  spring.write(200);

  delay(500);

  latch.write(60);

  delay(1000);

  rotate.write(50);

  delay(500);

  rotate.write(30);

  candy.write(140);

  delay(500);

  candy.write(25);

  digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);

  delay(1000);

  valm=0;

   val2=0;

  val1=0;

}

  else

 

  {

 

    if(val2>valm && val2>val1)

  {digitalWrite(led2,HIGH);

  rotate.write(75);

   spring.write(50);

  delay(1000);

  latch.write(200);

  delay(1000);

  spring.write(200);

  delay(500);

  latch.write(60);

  delay(1000);

  rotate.write(40);

  delay(500);

  rotate.write(30);

  candy.write(140);

  delay(500);

  candy.write(25);

  digitalWrite(led2,LOW);

  delay(1000);

  valm=0;

  val2=0;

  val1=0;

 

  }

else

{if(val1>valm && val1>val2)

{digitalWrite(ledcenter,HIGH);

rotate.write(110);

 spring.write(50);

  delay(1000);

  latch.write(200);

  delay(1000);

  spring.write(200);

  delay(500);

  latch.write(60);

  delay(1000);

rotate.write(40);

delay(500);

rotate.write(30);

candy.write(140);

  delay(500);

  candy.write(25);

digitalWrite(ledcenter,LOW);

delay(1000);

valm=0;

val2=0;

val1=0;

 

}}}}}