Hack your usb missile launcher into an "Auto-aiming autoturret!"

How to make your usb missile launcher aim on it's own.
This instructable will teach you to turn your usb missile launcher in an autoturret which will find and aim at IR targets. (sorry only IR targets)

Step 1 What you need!

What do I need?

You need:

1 wiimote:
a bluetooth enabled pc
1 Usb missile launcher (duh!)
Ducttape
GlovePie (Programmable input emulator) You can download glovepie from: http://glovepie.org/poiuytrewq.php
A little bit of programming experience (not really necessary but, helps you understand the programming part better)

Comments

[Matrix-technician]

Where can i get a launcher like this besides ebay?

[Roshy10]

http://cpc.farnell.com/thumbs-up/usbmis/usb-missile-launcher/dp/LH00842?Ntt=usb+missile+launcher

[frostybob]

I have a Lego Mindstorms 2.0 kit. Just wondering that because it has a IR function on it could the turret track the mindstorms brick??

[dremeldude]

This would be cool if you put an ir led on a rc helicopter and try to outfly the launcher

[account3r2]

will this work with the think geek one?

[toelle]

This one? http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/8a0f/

Well the missile launcher itself should work the same way, but maybe the software is different and you might have to tweak the code a bit, but it should work fine.

[account3r2]

what one did you use?

[rirdrifta]

Hello I have an ideo you can get some face detection soft ware for the computer than put camera instead of a wii reomte than when the camera has detected a face than the missle launcher can fire. Any thoughts?

[sam1997]

you could always do the easy thing and get this
http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/warfare/8bc4/

[toelle]

That thing is not autoaiming like this one (it could be tweaked the same way though). What you are linking to is the exact same missile launcher as the one in this instructable, except that it has a laser pointer.

[Chowmix12]

Wait, aren't laser pointer infrared? You could just point a laser at a target and have it track it and fire.... that would be awesome... 

[shakespeare1212]

No, laser pointers are not infrared. They are red, or some green. If you don't mind ruining your Wii Remote, you can take the IR filter off the front of the camera, and then a laser pointer can work, or so I've heard. I've never tried it myself.

[Chowmix12]

then, whats with the big red "infrared radiation" warning labels? has anyone given it a try?

[A.J.]

no offense but the warning on low power devices such as these are mostly bs. that is unless a fool is dumb enough to hold a magnifying glass up to it :-) which i am assuming most of us won't do (just some info, so no offense)

[Chowmix12]

makes sense because infrared is invisible to human eye... but has anyone ever tried it? who knows.. it just might be able to be detected by the wiimote..

[toelle]

Yea, low power lasers are pretty harmless. Your blink reflex will be triggered long before your eye takes any notable damage. However, those IR lasers in CD drives and such ARE pretty dangerous! Dont mess with them!

[toelle]

I don't think that would work. Without the IR-filter, all wavelenghts would be detected. It could maybe work if you were in a complete dark room, with a laserpointer.

[thezapper602]

This hack does not work in Israel nor on Israeli PC's. You can try, but GlovePie won't boot unless you hack it (witch is not easy, since it is not open source.)

[toelle]

Why not?

[VRAndy]

The author of the software has intentionally crippled it so that it will not function in Israel as a sort of political protest.  He has claimed that he will release a patch when Israel gives equal rights to the Palestinians or when they pull out of the west bank and the Gaza strip.

I'm not at all sure that I approve of this method of protesting, but I guess it's his right.

[ultimatesx9]

IR only?.......... theres a problem, unless you took a web cam out of the case and put it on the missile launcher, and then made it aim at a moving object. yeah, not likly. this project is actully ironic, i wnet to maplins today, and saw the exact same ML, and was tempted to get it, but didnt have my money with me

[kirgy9]

actualy, the wiimote has a built-in IR camera. The "sensor bar" is quick ironic as all it does is light up IR LEDs the IR LEDs are used to help locate movement. If you dont believe me, powerup a wii, go to collaboration, find any old tv remote and point it at the wiimote whilst pressing buttons. On the screen you will see the LED lighting up on the TV remote. Its an odd system I know, but it works nonetheless.

[ultimatesx9]

No, i mean a webcam, you know, not IR-Cam. I know that a sensor bar is IR emitting light diodes inside. I mean using a webcam to track a moving objects motion and fire at that.

[mr.incredible]

 The Wii remote is the IR web cam, NOT the IR emitter. You need a IR emitter for it to track. That is why you can make a White Board with the remote.

[kirgy9]

oh right, I thought the guy was geting at the idea of using it to target an IR LED, rather than actualy using a webcam? Cus it wouldnt be too difficult if he was doing that

[Chowmix12]

 can't you use lasers to point at the target? laser pointers have these infrared warning labels so the should work right?

[watermelonhead]

umm...you duck-taped the wiimote to the turret?

[toelle]

That's right! All hail duct-tape!

[watermelonhead]

JAAA
it just seems
um
crude?
but you're right. duct tape is awesome.

Yop.

[Joe141]

I have set all of this up,
but my missile launcher software does not have keyboard control, you have to hold the mouse on the arrows to make it move.
Anyway around this?

Thanks!

[toelle]

You could try to change the code in glovePIE so it moves the mouse over a button and presses the mouse button.

[d2j5]

what does the missel launcher do on its own? and where can i even buy one?[ i know it shoots missles]

[Colonel88]

why don't you stick a coin cell and an IR led on the back of a nerf dart? Then you just shoot someone and watch them get obliterated by multiple other nerf darts :D

[Gamernotnerd]

Or a low-power IR laser.

[conradev]

ADD THIS TO THE THINK GEEK HACKS CONTEST BCAUSE YOU CAN FIND THIS MISSILE LAUNCHER ON THINK GEEK.COM

[venomireland]

Caps lock?

[junits15]

wouldent it be cool if you took the ir laser out of a cd drive and put it into a pen hen all youd have to do would be to point it at the target person!

[luke]

that should work but playing with IR lasers in very dangerous, they will fry your retina over easy without you seeing anything at all.

[Inmate1440]

or ever again for that matter

[Capt. Fat]

Wheredid u buy the usb launcher to?