HACKED!: Looping Louie on Steroids

Intro: HACKED!: Looping Louie on Steroids

In this project I will show you how I "hacked" a kids game called "Looping Louie". This way the speed of the toy airplane receives a big speed boost and makes the game more fun and difficult for adults. You can control the speed with a potentiometer from -9V up to +9V or choose one of the three random modes (easy,medium and hard) which randomly selects a speed value and direction.

STEP 1: Watch the Video!

The video gives you all information you need to build this on your own. But here I will also present you my parts list, schematic, pics and the arduino sketch.

STEP 2: Order Your Parts!

Here you can find all the parts that I used in this project. Feel free to order them with the given links (affiliate links).

Ebay:

1x Looping Louie Game:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x LCD 16x2 HD44780:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x Push button: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 10k Potentiometer: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Potentiometer Knob:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Project Box (black):http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x DC Jack: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 9V Power Supply (1A):http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Slide Switch:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Hook-Up Wire:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Silvered Copper Wire (Bridge Wire): http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x PCB (copper dots): http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x LM7805: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x 10µFCapacitor:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x 100nF Capacitor: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

2x 22pF Capacitor:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 100k Potentiometer:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

3x 10k Resistor:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x 16MHz Crystal:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Male header:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Female header: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x Atmega 328P:http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x FTDI breakout: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

1x L293D: http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?...

Amazon.de:

1x Looping Louie Game:http://amzn.to/1AsIY1e

1x LCD 16x2 HD44780:http://amzn.to/1vwaSYT

2x Push button:http://amzn.to/1vwbaiC

1x 10k Potentiometer:http://amzn.to/1xVIq0q

1x Potentiometer Knob:http://amzn.to/1r4DsJE

1x Project Box (black): -

1x DC Jack:http://amzn.to/1xZ9jBJ

1x 9V Power Supply (1A):http://amzn.to/1xbdZQU

1x Slide Switch:http://amzn.to/1r4D51T

1x Hook-Up Wire:http://amzn.to/1qGS87j

1x Silvered Copper Wire (Bridge Wire):http://amzn.to/1xZ9xIZ

1x PCB (copper dots):http://amzn.to/1AsLlB2

1x LM7805:http://amzn.to/14X4EFV

2x 10µFCapacitor:http://amzn.to/1r4ExkF

2x 100nF Capacitor:http://amzn.to/11lxZYo

2x 22pF Capacitor:http://amzn.to/11lxZYo

1x 100k Potentiometer:http://amzn.to/1r4ELZ4

3x 10k Resistor:http://amzn.to/1xZ9VqI

1x 16MHz Crystal:http://amzn.to/1r4EUvA

1x Male header:http://amzn.to/14X5eDy

1x Female header:http://amzn.to/1yyG2MC

1x Atmega 328P:http://amzn.to/1uj2YLw

1x FTDI breakout:http://amzn.to/1F8tjlM

1x L293D:http://amzn.to/1vwcxh7

Aliexpress:

1x LCD 16x2 HD44780: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dW1U1Fi

2x Push button: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXIIMcP

1x 10k Potentiometer: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dX83GAF

1x DC Jack: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d6cVZVl

1x 9V Power Supply (1A): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d8Hnap2

1x Slide Switch: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVn7Jlz

1x PCB (copper dots): https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXx2Zv5

1x LM7805: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dXSrfiP

2x 10µFCapacitor: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_d7dOwRz

2x 100nF Capacitor: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dU4FEsB

2x 22pF Capacitor: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dU4FEsB

1x 100k Potentiometer: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dX83GAF

3x 10k Resistor: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dTPpXjt

1x 16MHz Crystal: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZ5pf72

1x Atmega 328P: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dVDipC8

1x FTDI breakout: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dV4Gqp1

1x L293D: https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_dZiFjuy

STEP 3: Build the Circuit!

Here you can find the schematic that I made for the project. Feel free to build your own board design but you can also use my own design as a reference.

STEP 4: Upload the Code!

Here you can find the Arduino Code that I used in this project. I used an FTDI breakout to program my Atmega328P but you can also just place it inside an Arduino Uno and program it this way.

STEP 5: Success!

Now you can enjoy your hardcore Looping Louie game with some new awesome features!

Feel free to check out my Youtube channel for more awesome projects:

http://www.youtube.com/user/greatscottlab

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for news about upcoming projects and behind the scenes information.

https://twitter.com/GreatScottLab

https://www.facebook.com/greatscottlab

Comments

[halfknight]

Hat echt gut funktioniert, va kurz vor Silvester auch schnell zu machen ;D

[X-play]

Hi, I have finally buildt your Hacked Louie but when I try to upload the ino file with my UNO and an Atmega 328p-pu I got compiling error and a lot of red lines indicating missing commands. Can you help? Best regards /Dan

[elpacoverano]

I did not get any compiling errors, the software works fine. Did the red lines tell you that the programmer is not working? Then probably your chip does not contain a bootloader and that is why it does not work...

[angusprune]

Did you get this working on the uno?

And did you include the LCD in the end?

[elpacoverano]

So, I managed to build this and it works, but one important fact should be made VERY clear. When buying the Atmega328P you have to make sure that it already contains a "bootloader", which is a small software part that allows the programming by the FTDI. MOST OF THE TIMES when you buy the Atmega328P, the bootloader is not included (also when they say so in Aliexpress!) and you will not be able to transfer the program. To add the bootloader, you will need a functioning arduino board (with additional Atmegachip) to first install a bootloader into the chip. I tried that with a borrowed arduino, but it did not work for whatever reason, so I bought a complete arduino board (ELEGOO) for 10 EUR with an Atmega328P included and then the bootloader is definitely already installed. You can then program the Atmega328P chip directly while in the arduino board and when ready plug it into the Louie board. If you do it like this, you will not be needing the FTDI, the pins for the FTDI connector, the capacitor and resistor on pin1 and save some connections. The cost will more or less be the same in the end but it makes it a bit easier to do. Of course if you switch the chip to often back to the arduino to change the program, you might break its pins.

[elpacoverano]

"2x 10µFCapacitor" is in the list but on the picture clearly a 47 µF is on the table and another one that seems even bigger. Why the differences between foto's and list?

[TonyP180]

Thx dude for this, works well!

[nicnic63]

Did you follow the schematic for this or did you try to dissect the images?

I found a discrapancy between the video and schema and don't knkw which to follow

[TonyP180]

Hey i Used the Schema in the Video and the script ino in this Post and Build my own Programm.

[nicnic63]

Can you post a clearer schematic? I'm trying to read it but the image file distorts the scheme. Additionally when I try to compare it with the video, I can't fully understand which lines are matching which wire.

[X-play]

Cool, here in Sweden LCD's are so expensive, can I just exclude it or do I have to change more things. The switch will toggle anyway?

[iam_maker_leo]

Nice Hack!!

As your project... I knew that there are many toies can hack.

thank you

[Clapoti]

Sehr gut !
That's a really cool project :)

[seamster]

Very cool! That game looks like a lot of fun. I wonder if someone would make a homemade version completely from scratch... Hmmm!