Gull Watch
Our device is an alarm system that exhibits light sound and spins to ward off intruders from a home. When bright light or loud sounds are produced the alarm is activated and emits a flashing orange and red light as well as a loud siren noise. It also spins a sharp weapon to scare away intruders and keep them from tampering with the alarm which has buttons to easily deactivate by the owner. Button A sets the alarm so it can be triggered by light and sound while button B deactivates the alarm and stops all lights, sounds, and actions.
Supplies
- Adafruit Circuit Playground Express Basekit
- Continuous Rotation Micro Servo
- 3D Printer
- 500g weight
- Super glue / hot glue
- Wires
- Soldering iron and solder
Print each stl file individually (see Printing Example for more detail instructions)
Install Circuit Python onto the Circuit Playground Express (CPX) (see Coding Example for more detailed instructions)
Download code, and copy in into the “code.py” file on the CPX (see Coding Example for more detailed instructions and file download)
Place the battery, 500g weight, and wires inside the bottom half of the box
Push the battery pack wire through the upper hole on the front side
Take servo wires, and pull them through the hole next to mount
Connect servo wires to the three extension wires, and label the color each new wire connects to (this will be used for reference later)
Snap together the two halves of the box, whilst holding the three servo wires out of the hole in the middle of the CPX mount
Once the box is closed, take the three wires and place them so that the loose ends are placed in the following positions (brown servo wire connects to GND, red servo wire connects to A1, yellow servo wire connects to V-OUT)
Solder all of the wires into place (be careful not to touch the CPX directly with the soldering iron)
Place CPX on top of box
Place servo in side mount with motor facing up
Glue weapon piece onto white servo rotor attachment, and place on servo rotor
Plug in power cord to the CPX
To use, press Button A to set the device, and press Button B to deactivate it
Printing Example
- Download and print the following STL files using a 3D printer. Use a raft and supports.
- These files were designed using TinkerCAD
- Files can be downloaded from https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6313272
- Import the file “Wire_Box_Alarm_System_V2.stl” into MakerBot CloudPrint to slice and prepare for printing
- Select “Sketch” for the printer and “PLA” for material
- Within quick settings, set the following values
- Layer height: 0.18
- Infill Density: 15%
- Numbers of shells: 2
- Support Type: breakaway material
- Base Layer: None
- Import the file “Gull_Watch_Weapon.stl” into MakerBot CloudPrint to slice and prepare for printing
- Select “Sketch” for the printer and “PLA” for material
- Within quick settings, set the following values
- Layer height: 0.18
- Infill Density: 15%
- Numbers of shells: 2
- Support Type: breakaway material (make sure support under bridges is checked off)
- Base Layer: None
- Remove supports using cuticle cutters
Coding Example
- Follow these instructions to install CircuitPython onto your CPX: https://learn.adafruit.com/welcome-to-circuitpython/installing-circuitpython
- Download code.py and alarm.mp3 files from this github repository:
https://github.com/David-Picariello/GullWatch.git
- If you get stuck on how to download here's a tutorial:
https://blog.hubspot.com/website/download-from-github
- Connect your CPX to your computer and save code.py onto it
- Save audio file alarm.mp3 to CPX
- The provided code will:
- Have a detector for light using the CPX light sensor
- Have a detector for sound using the CPX microphone
- Button A on the CPX must be pressed to set the alarm
- Then if either of the detectors are set off then a function gets called to
- play the alarm.wav file
- turn on the flashing CPX lights
- start moving the CPX defense weapon
- Then to disable the alarm system Button B on the CPX must be pressed.
- To reset the alarm Button A must be pressed again for it to be in a detection state.