05:Targeting System

Sun, 08 Aug 2010

Okay, actually it's just a pan and tilt system that I am going to attach my webcam too and control via a USB breakout board with some Software that I am writing in C#. But still, I'm having fun and I figured someone may find it interesting.

Anyway, I have written the software and assembled the hardware to confirm that I can make the motors spin via the computer. I spent his weekend building the Pan-and-Tilt hardware with some excellent tips from my sister, and some assistance from my three lab assistants (my wife, my son (2 years old) and my daughter (4 years old)).

I'll post a full parts list a bit later with a full article of the entire build including where you can get hold of all the parts and how to build it yourself. I'll also publish the source code here as soon as I have cleaned it up a bit so that it is actually ready for public viewing. For now, you can look at some picks.

I built the camera bracket from carbon fibre, okay, actually it's 2mm ABS which I cut, bent (with a hairdryer) and glued (with Acetone - yes, better than any glue you can buy).

The bracket connected perfectly to the 1st gearbox. (I'll sort out the gearing ratios later). This will be the "Tilt" mechanism.

I just hope that 3mm shaft is tight enough to move my web cam, otherwise I may have to get a bit more creative.

Now for that second gearbox. This will be the "Pan" box. The baseplate clips onto the driving gear from the second gearbox.

The entire assembly assembled. The next step would be the build the bracket to make this thing hang off the back of my LCD monitor, and then it all needs to be connected up and wired in. But more of that next time.

The long term idea is to get my targeting system to automatically lock on to a target (anything moving past the camera) and then track it's movement until the target is lost. Other options include letting me control where my camera is looking over the web (nice for keeping an eye on stuff while you're away on holiday, or on the auto targeting system to add some type of weapon. A water canon (which I should also be able to control easily from my USB breakout board would keep the cats off our lawn. I'll still have to work on something less messy for indoor use though.

Let me know what you think.