Introduction: Catch Me (already Known As "tag")

“Catch Me” is a very simple game - and of course you already played it in your youngness :) !
One player runs behind the other players (who run away), and tries to touch one of them - like a “hunter”.
The one last touched becomes the new “hunter”, and so on.
Our idea is to make the game more interactive using LEDs and sensor (done by conductive thread).

Step 1: How It Work

Players wear a strip of cloth.
In this strip there are 2 main parts.

In one part (that will be in the back of the player) there are:
- a big sensitive area made with a grid of conductive thread;
- a red LEDs array (5 pieces, 3mm)
- 1 IR LED

In the other part (that will be in the front of the player) there are:
- a small sensitive area made with a grid of conductive thread;
- 1 red LED (5mm)
- 1 TSOP

The player who runs behind the other players has all the LEDs turned ON.
When this player touches another player in his sensitive area in the back, two things happen:
- the LEDs of the first player become turned OFF
- the LEDs of the second player (the one touched) become turned ON
That happens automatically thanks to an IR signal.

Every player can check the status of his LEDs simply looking at the LED in the front.
They can turn OFF their LEDs, touching the small sensitive area in the front.

Step 2: Cloth and Conductive Thread - 1

Materials:
- strip of cloth width 100cm height 60cm (it depends on the player chest!)
- conductive thread (i used http://www.plugandwear.com/default.asp?mod=product&cat_id=105&product_id=215)

Take the strip of cloth, and fold the short side 3 times, then turn up the upper strip.
The twin strip must be stitch toghether with bland stitching. This stitch will be remove.

Step 3: Cloth and Conductive Thread - 2

Drow the lines for the conductive stitching and other useful stitching inside the twin strip.
This drawing is to help you in the next step.

Step 4: Cloth and Conductive Thread - 3

Pass again the drawing with stitchings.
If you use the sewing machine you must remember to put the normal thread in the upper spool and the conductive thread in lower spool. In this way you'll have the conductive thread outside: this will be the sensitive area.

Step 5: Attach Washers, Leds, IR LED, TSOP - 1

Now you need to work in the inside part.

Attach six washers with conductive thread.
The drawing explains you where to put the washers.

Step 6: Attach Washers, Leds, IR LED, TSOP - 2

Now you need to work in the outside part.

Apply the LEDs, one IR LED and one TSOP.
The drawing explains you how to do that.

Do 1 hole for each LED in outside, where you want to apply the LEDs. You can do the holes with a big needle.

Then insert the LEDs and come back to work to the inside part.

Step 7: Attach Washers, Leds, IR LED, TSOP - 3

Then stitch the LEDs’ legs with conductive thread. The legs need to touch the conductive stitching.

Do the same with the IR LED and with the TSOP, but don’t stitch their legs!

Step 8: Program Arduino

Now you need to program your Arduino! (i used Arduino Mini)

Here you can find the sketch used:
https://github.com/pictux/CatchMe/blob/master/catchme/catchme.ino

Thanks to Pictux :)

Step 9: Connect Wires

Connect all the wires attached to the washers, to the Arduino pins.

To do that, you can follow this schema:
https://github.com/pictux/CatchMe/blob/master/catchme_sch.png

Thanks to Pictux :)

Step 10: Last Things - 1

Put the Arduino Mini near the battery’s bag, and stitch it.
Insert batteries in its bag.

(I used http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:108551)

Step 11: Last Things - 2

Close and wear the strip.
Good fun!