Build a USB Orange Thrower Machine

This step-by-step will show you how to build a Orange Thrower Machine controlled by any computer using a normal USB cable.

It is based on the ancient Trebuchets although it is made of canes and doesn't have the sling. The electronics are very simple, it only needs an arduino and a servo to release the arm. 

I used also an webcam so that it could throw the orange when it detected a certain color, using the application ComputerOnWheelsController  which I created for many different projects like the following one - http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-simple-platform-and-give-mobility-to-your-c/, for example.

I built it just for fun and you can see it working here: 

UPDATE:
I decided to build a new one using zip ties instead of sisal rope which has a new release and auto-reload mechanism.
 

Step 1 Materials and Tools

Materials:

• Some canes
• Sisal Rope (or zip ties)

• Tape
• Counterweight
• Arduino
• Servo
• Wires
• USB Cable
• Webcam
• Computer

Tools:

• Drill
• Jigsaw

Comments

[flamesami]

how far does it throw? i can't tell by the video but it looks like 10m, am i correct?

[XicoMBD]

Yes, it's +- that distance.

[Kiteman]

Wow, what a combination - stone materials to build a medieval weapon that's controlled by a 21st century machine...

Of course, you now need to add mechanisms to re-set and reload the catapult, preferably with water-balloons!

[XicoMBD]

Yes, that is the idea, but I don't think that the water-balloons would like the nail :P

[Kiteman]

If you replace the nail with a cup or basket, the re-loads can just roll down a slope into it.