Autonomous Paintball Sentry Gun

Step 5 Wiring

Arduino :
The Arduino connects to the computer through the USB A to B cord. This also powers the Arduino. Various other things wire to the Arduino:

Here's a wiring schematic , and you can get a sentry shield if you want an easy solution.


Servos :
You will need a seperate power source for your servo's. I reccomend 4 C-cell or D-cell batteries, wired in series to make 6V. Check the data sheet to find the power consumption for your servo's!
Servo motors have three wires: power, ground, and signal. Each servo's power wire is typically red, and should be connected to the (+) wire from your servo power source. The ground wire is typically black or brown and should be connected to a ground pin on the Arduino board, and to the (-) wire of your power source. The signal wire is typically yellow, orange or white and should be connected as follows: The x-axis servo's signal wire goes to the Arduino's digital I/O pin 3, the y-axis servo to pin 4, and the trigger servo to pin 6.

You can also add some optional switches and LED's , but they are not necessary:
-USB status indicator LED to digital I/O pin 5
-firing indicator LED to digital I/O pin 2
-a "power switch" between the (+) from the servo power source and the servo's, to turn off the servo's and save battery power
-a "safety switch" between the (+) from the servo power source, and the trigger servo, (but after the 'power switch'), to turn off the firing functionality easily and quickly (in an emergency)
-a 'reload' switch, wired between +5V from the Arduino and digital I/O pin 7, to set the gun in a programmable position convenient for reloading



Solder everything if you can. If you want, make your own arduino 'shield' with all the conections. This allows you to "plug in" the Arduino, and "unplug" it when it is needed elsewhere, without losing track of which wires go to which pins.