Introduction: Electronic Fencing Target

How awesome it would be if you can build something that helps you train in fencing and have fun at the same time, right!?,
My name is Enrique Alvarez, I am the fencing master for the Fargo-Moorhead Fencing Club and I was tired of seeing my students playing video games in tournaments and not paying attention to what they should have been paying attention, ;) I had the idea to bring the electronic world and fencing together and have some fun with it, I am sure everybody is familiarized with electronic targets, devices that usually contain a set of lights and pressure sensors that determine which region of the target is being hit, very similar to the electronic memory game of Simon. I wanted to bring this idea to the next level, and that’s why I created the MMFT (multi modal electronic target).




Step 1: Cut Play-wood and Place the Targets

First step is to get the plywood cut and drilled,
I got half an inch Birch plywood and cut it 18 by 20 inches approximately
then I drilled 7 holes destined for the seven targets/push-buttons from All Electronics and finally placed them in the positions shown in the picture.

Step 2: Prep the Lights

The push-button from All Electronics come with the regular white bulb,
what I did, was to switch those bulbs for RGB leds, driven by an Arduino Mega
I also added some resistors to control the current sent to the LEDs.

Step 3: Prepare the Arduino

The Arduino Mega is limited in current output, so I included a set of n-channel Mosfets to beef up the power to the leds.

Step 4: Display Board

The Electronic Fencing Target includes a 4 digit display to show the fencer the results of the exercises and any other info messages.
The 4 digit display uses an SPI interface with the micro-controller, messages with the data to display are sent through the SPI link and received by the sub-system. More details are explained in the code section.

Step 5: Wrie It Up!

Now, you just have to wire the output from the N-channel Mosfets to the RGB leds and the push-button inputs,
in this particular model, there are:
- 7 outputs for the red leds,
- 7 outputs for the green leds,
- 7 inputs for the push-buttons.
The eagle schematic is also shown in the images files and the schematic in Eagle cadsoft is included.

Attachments

Step 6: Wireless Module

The wireless module is composed of:

- 1 Arduino nano

- 1 link pair of nRF24L01+
- 1 cell phone micro motor

The submodule is based on the nRF24L01+, more info->

https://www.deviceplus.com/arduino/nrf24l01-rf-mod...

https://howtomechatronics.com/tutorials/arduino/ar...

https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/nrf24l01-tran...

The wireless module receives messages form the Arduino Mega an when needed activates the micro motor to provide vibration in along the blade.The module is attached to the weapon with a couple of Neodymium magnets.

Step 7: Software Code

The project uses:
1 arduino Mega + Arduino Nano emitter
[code attached above]
Arduino Nano receiver
[code attached above]

Attachments

Step 8: Vinil for the Front and Enjoy!