Automatic Target Project

[Tadpole]

I'll stick with my piece of string for the moment ..

[jefL]

I'll stick with my piece of string for the moment ..

Can't be bettered, still works in a power cut, no batteries to run flat, and when it has a hissy fit and loses its memory all you need is a reef not and hey presto, you're up and running again in moments.

[eggplant]

Cool as !

Im in the process of doing one myself, heres my first prototype made from a commercially available knock down/reset (wanted to see how they worked), an old epson printer, 2 servos, bits and bobs. Its controoled by an arduino which is basically a micro controller board which is programmed from a pc and then can run as a standalone or pc controlled. The one in the vid is manually controlled via switches etc at the end of a long cable.
I have a wireless module and the idea is that the target part can either run on its own, maybe a set of "program modes" or can be remotely controlled from a pc/lappy/pda which could then log peoples scores, have more variable "games" etc.
Hope you like it, sorry about the crap quality vid but had phone in one hand and controls in the other !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DwD7QzN98I

[Cones]

Excellent stuff.

We were thinking of a moving target as well. Perhaps something that moves on a rail system. But I like the idea of an old printer carriage.

Mark

[Fred]

I am really interested in Electronic Knockdown Targets, Just like those that Promatic Make/Use. You can see them at most of the game fairs. They might even be on their website but I'm not sure.

All this technical talk has just confused me!

I would ideally like to make 7 knockdown targets electronic, so when they are knocked down they will automatically come back up OR have a option where they stay down when hit until you want to bring them back up.

How hard would this be? Ideally I wouldn't want to spend much. I already have 7 knockdown targets if that makes a difference.

Cheers

Fred

[Cones]

I am really interested in Electronic Knockdown Targets, Just like those that Promatic Make/Use. You can see them at most of the game fairs. They might even be on their website but I'm not sure.

All this technical talk has just confused me!

I would ideally like to make 7 knockdown targets electronic, so when they are knocked down they will automatically come back up OR have a option where they stay down when hit until you want to bring them back up.

How hard would this be? Ideally I wouldn't want to spend much. I already have 7 knockdown targets if that makes a difference.

Cheers

Fred

This is the one you are on about.

http://www.promatic.co.uk/product-sharp-shooter.aspx

I think the targets are about £500 EACH!!

It does look very well engineered though.

I would think a homemade multi target system with some of the ideas above could be made for a fair bit less than this. But would need a bit of thought about the equipment and programming. It would probably not be as durable either. I have not even though about making it weatherproof yet!

Mark

[eggplant]

£500 is a bit steep ! but as you say, they do look durable.

I've just had another idea for Fred after looking at those, how about a radio control as used in a model plane/car etc. That way servo control is all taken care of and all that is needed is a bit of DIY to connect the servos to the targets, the only thing missing then would be making the targets come back up on their own, but using a radio system like that would mean most of the job was straight out of the box which is ideal for someone that doesnt have any electronics or programming knowledge. Just dont use the system near a model plane club

Im sort of considering weatherproofing but because mine will be used in the garden I can just stick it in the shed so I'm not too concerned, more bothered about pelletproofing it !

[Fred]

This is the one you are on about.

http://www.promatic.co.uk/product-sharp-shooter.aspx

I think the targets are about £500 EACH!!

It does look very well engineered though.

I would think a homemade multi target system with some of the ideas above could be made for a fair bit less than this. But would need a bit of thought about the equipment and programming. It would probably not be as durable either. I have not even though about making it weatherproof yet!

Mark

They wouldn't need to be weather proof as they will be in an indoor shooting range.

Cheers

[eggplant]

We were thinking of a moving target as well. Perhaps something that moves on a rail system. But I like the idea of an old printer carriage.

Its a bit small but the idea works.
I've since ordered a larger toothed belt and some other bits and hope to get on with it soon. As well as a moving target, I like the idea of the target being able to appear at will, i.e. drop out of sight, move, then pop up. I now actually prefer the idea of a paper target but the problem there is counting the score which is something I'm sort of looking into but is proving to be difficult if not impossible to do without a serious amount of ££ which isnt an option for a home project ! Perhaps making the target tray part interchangable from a duck/target/whatever might be the best option. I'll post an update as and when, hopefully later this week.

[eggplant]

I would ideally like to make 7 knockdown targets electronic, so when they are knocked down they will automatically come back up OR have a option where they stay down when hit until you want to bring them back up.

How hard would this be? Ideally I wouldn't want to spend much. I already have 7 knockdown targets if that makes a difference

Quite easy, perhaps the servo controller that Mark used would be the easiest option but I'm not familiar with the programming language used, looking at the code I wouldnt imagine its that hard.
Using the controller I use would be quite easy (but isnt anything if you know how!) its just a matter of something to detect the drop of the target, then when that happens something to pop it back up again. The system I use uses 2 servos for the target to go up and down, the reason I used 2 was to make the mechanics easier.
One servo simple pulls a magnet on a spring to one side and thus releases the target and allows it to "stand up" the second one pulls it down.
Cost wouldnt be immense I wouldnt have thought - servos that do the job for about £10 or so each (depending on the weight of the target and how much torque is needed to lift / drop it) Heaver target = more torque needed = more £££.
Sensors to detect the target dropping, perhaps a simple microswitch would do if it was dome in such a way as to not directly whack the switch. A controller board and a few bits and bobs on top probably brings the total to under £100 at a rough guess.
Making them pop up when you want can be easier or more difficult, switches connected to the target/controller via a cable would be cheap but messy, but remotely it starts getting more difficult and more expensive.

My thoughts of course, maybe someone has an easier solution.

[Fred]

Quite easy, perhaps the servo controller that Mark used would be the easiest option but I'm not familiar with the programming language used, looking at the code I wouldnt imagine its that hard.
Using the controller I use would be quite easy (but isnt anything if you know how!) its just a matter of something to detect the drop of the target, then when that happens something to pop it back up again. The system I use uses 2 servos for the target to go up and down, the reason I used 2 was to make the mechanics easier.
One servo simple pulls a magnet on a spring to one side and thus releases the target and allows it to "stand up" the second one pulls it down.
Cost wouldnt be immense I wouldnt have thought - servos that do the job for about £10 or so each (depending on the weight of the target and how much torque is needed to lift / drop it) Heaver target = more torque needed = more £££.
Sensors to detect the target dropping, perhaps a simple microswitch would do if it was dome in such a way as to not directly whack the switch. A controller board and a few bits and bobs on top probably brings the total to under £100 at a rough guess.
Making them pop up when you want can be easier or more difficult, switches connected to the target/controller via a cable would be cheap but messy, but remotely it starts getting more difficult and more expensive.

My thoughts of course, maybe someone has an easier solution.

Thanks for all this help.

The problem is that I'm not very mechanically/electrically minded. For instance, I don't know what a Servo is and I don't get the Codes at all!

When you say it would be under £100 roughly, would that be per knockdown or for all seven?

Basically, what I am looking for is knockdown targets which automatically come up when hit. It would also be a big bonus if I had a option so when they are hit, they stay down.

If I could get a controller which let me choose which targets come up at what time then that would be fantastic, but somehow I think I that would be to hard to make and to expensive.

By all the confusing talk you are doing, I am guessing you need a quite good mind of electrics before even starting this project?

I would be using the targets at 25 yards indoors, so being weatherproof is not a problem.

I would want them to be reliable, so they don't randomly stop and be a pain in the arse.

Cheers

Fred