TinyCircuits Forum

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: braza on April 29, 2014, 02:52:45 PM

Title: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on April 29, 2014, 02:52:45 PM
Hi all,

I`m back here inspired by new circuits available.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/modder-adds-fps-style-ammo-counter-to-automatic-weapon/ (http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/01/modder-adds-fps-style-ammo-counter-to-automatic-weapon/) is what I`d like to to achieve with TinyDuino.
I`ve already checked a  https://tiny-circuits.com/tinyshield-compatibility/ (https://tiny-circuits.com/tinyshield-compatibility/) and 7 led number display isn`t there yet but as per specification it uses the same analogue outputs as a Accelerometer.

Any chances to somehow solve it?
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on May 12, 2014, 03:50:00 PM
Folks, no ideas at all?
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: kingoddball on May 13, 2014, 02:16:17 AM
I'm interested but no real help.
You got any ideas?
Sound or light based?
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: Grimstone on May 13, 2014, 03:53:25 PM
Have not played with the LCD board, but it does seem to call for the same pins based on first glance of the docs. You might be able to pull it off though instead using a matrix shield which uses IO pins, instead of the analog. These two boards should be compatible. It would require a bit more programming though. It is a really cool concept and love to work on it.
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on September 03, 2014, 03:55:58 AM
I'm interested but no real help.
You got any ideas?
Sound or light based?
Do you mean what is the method for shot detection? I used accelerometer. If that was the question
The troubles I actually have is that pins on somw of the TinyDuino layers overlap...
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on September 03, 2014, 04:00:33 AM
Have not played with the LCD board, but it does seem to call for the same pins based on first glance of the docs. You might be able to pull it off though instead using a matrix shield which uses IO pins, instead of the analog. These two boards should be compatible. It would require a bit more programming though. It is a really cool concept and love to work on it.
Hi thanks for answering. Not sure why I didnt get notified earlier. What is LCD board? I cant see such thing in he products. DO you mean custom one?
I dislike monochrome LCD because the wont be seen in the darkness
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: goforspaatz on October 14, 2014, 09:52:19 PM
Hi,

I just wanted to throw my ideas into the ring. First off, how big is the mag you're using? I'm thinking we could use the 16 edge LED ring and start with it fully lit. As shots are fired, it turns off LEDs progressively backwards until the last one. If you have a 30-round clip, you could assign an LED to go off after two shots.

Just my way of thinking. It would be easier to do it this way than with a 7-segment display.
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on October 18, 2014, 11:58:53 AM
Hi,

I just wanted to throw my ideas into the ring. First off, how big is the mag you're using? I'm thinking we could use the 16 edge LED ring and start with it fully lit. As shots are fired, it turns off LEDs progressively backwards until the last one. If you have a 30-round clip, you could assign an LED to go off after two shots.

Just my way of thinking. It would be easier to do it this way than with a 7-segment display.

Hi goforspaatz,

I've had a conversation with Ken and it occured that 7 segment display is totally fine to work with Accelerometer and IR sensor altogether. Also I've jsut received that 7 segment display and proto terminal blocks unit. I does really work together and I have serial output from all sensors and 2 digit display at once. So In theory I could get up to 99 bullet clip. Not a problem anymore.

At the moment I have 2 issues:
Hull and mount for that thing to attach to gun. Since there's no proto board with sandwich connectors on both sides, I have to use terminal blocks which is bigger thus I cant use my 30mm tube with Weaver mount anymore :( 30mm weaver rings for optics are the biggest ones as far as I can see...
Power supply. This thing does not start and function properly without USB cable... Seems like that CR1632 can't provide enough of energy for all the stuff I have. Not sure what options are there for me.
[/list]

And here's the IR sensor and scheme I use for clip removal and color code detection. http://www.bajdi.com/analogread-from-a-tcrt5000-sensor/
The idea is that this sensor goes to the gun body and points to a certain attached clip point that can be coloured, meaning its capacity.
Attached my WIP pic
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: goforspaatz on October 18, 2014, 03:52:32 PM
I talked to Ken 2 mins ago, and you can solder on external power cabling to the tinyduino. Their new processor actually has built in lithium battery connectors, so you can do that. What are u using the ir sensor for? I also can't really help with mounting, sadly, as I have no experience with accessories for firearms. Good luck and keep working on it!!
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on October 19, 2014, 06:06:35 AM
I talked to Ken 2 mins ago, and you can solder on external power cabling to the tinyduino. Their new processor actually has built in lithium battery connectors, so you can do that. What are u using the ir sensor for? I also can't really help with mounting, sadly, as I have no experience with accessories for firearms. Good luck and keep working on it!!
I guess they have that connector on newer revision of processor borad than I have.. But sure I can solder it. Need to order that battery now and wait again.
Meanwhile I'm going to setup accelerometer logging to SD card and collect data from shooting range, analyze how one or series of shots look like from accelerometer's numbers perspective.
IR sensor is to be placed...not sure how to correctly call these parts in English...where clip's tooth fits into the gun body. Check the pics. Idea is to track if clip is removed and replaced to update the couner number to full clip value.
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on October 19, 2014, 06:22:19 AM
To be honest, it is really frustrating that no other proto board except that BIG terminal one has 2-side connector to other modules. It used to fit 30mm tube so well, making it easy tu mount as regular scope...
No I'm either have to drop that IR sensor ot find some crude way to attach it to gun...
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: calvinthedestroyer on October 24, 2014, 02:05:04 PM
This looks cool! I'll have to show it to some of the guys at work, they are big gun nuts.

What's the IR sensor for again?

Can you solder the sensor to the small proto shield instead of attaching it to the BIG terminal one?
Title: Re: Ammo counter
Post by: braza on October 25, 2014, 05:56:54 PM
This looks cool! I'll have to show it to some of the guys at work, they are big gun nuts.

What's the IR sensor for again?

Can you solder the sensor to the small proto shield instead of attaching it to the BIG terminal one?
Thanks! Check out the gun as well $) http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?/gallery/album/1384-saiga-20k-birds-winter-camo/

IR sensor is to reset the counter. Once the clip is empty, you pull it out and sensor detects that the tooth is gone. Then you attach full clip and sensor notices that clip-tooth is back and resets the number of bullets. It can even be improved to detect different clips by colour code so that you can use different capacity clips. In theory.

I can't soler it to the small proto shield because it has no connectors to attach a 7-segmet display on top of it. So I either have small proto board or a display with numbers...