DIY USB Servo-Guided Water Gun 66

Posted by timothy on Friday December 26, 2008 @04:50AM from the seasonally-inappropriate dept.

An anonymous reader writes "What better way is there to learn something than by making your own DIY gadget? Here's a new video showing how to use a common hobby servo, in conjunction with a small water pump, to create a USB controlled water gun! You can use your keyboard to aim and fire at an unsuspecting passerby. Both fun and educational, this project looks like a great DIY weekend project for any IT guy, wanting to make sure people think twice before asking a stupid question!"

DIY USB Servo-Guided Water Gun

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What? (Score:1, Offtopic)

by Eddi3 ( 1046882 ) writes:

What is this? News for nerds? Stuff that matters?
- Re:What? (Score:5, Funny)
  
  by Anonymous Coward writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @05:15AM (#26234089)
  
  Are you saying this doesn't matter? Legions of Wicked Witches will be stopped by this new weapon. Fill it with holy water and we may survive the vampire hoard.
  This is all that matters.
  
  - needs the right ammo (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by AliasMarlowe ( 1042386 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @07:00AM (#26234315) Journal
    
    Fill it with holy water
    Kids today are not evil enough. Fill it with a mix of 3-methyl-1-butanethiol, 2-quinolinemethanethiol, or similar mercaptans (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skunk#Anal_scent_glands). Even using a dilute solution, your victim will have no friends for a week.
    It might even keep the kids off your lawn.
    
    - Re: (Score:1)
      
      by NetLarry ( 1439377 ) writes:
      
      I did the 3-methyl-1-butanethiol trick >30 years ago at college. One drop discouraged even the most determined male dog trying to get in my house to "service" my in-heat female collie. There were a lot of clean & fluffy male dogs in the neighborhood after visiting my yard. My 5 ml bottle went a LONG way - lasted for years. Note: Don't keep the bottle in the house; once you open it the aroma will linger wherever you store it. NetLarry
  - Re: (Score:2, Funny)
    
    by Anonymous Coward writes:
    
    vampire hoard
    Are you suggesting there is someone out there stockpiling vampires in case of a vampire shortage?
    - Re:What? (Score:4, Funny)
      
      by spazdor ( 902907 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @01:35PM (#26235977)
      
      No. Absolutely not. Nobody is doing that.
      Completely unrelatedly, does anyone know if butchers will deliver blood directly to your basement? I'm never quite sure how to ask.
      
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by sakshale ( 598643 ) writes:
    
    I'm thinking about CAT control.... Let that critter try to sleep on my computer when I'm at work.... Yes!
  - Hoarding a horde? (Score:2)
    
    by macraig ( 621737 ) writes:
    
    What, you think someone is hoarding a horde of vampires? Who? Bruce Campbell?
- Re:USB != serial (Score:5, Informative)
  
  by LS ( 57954 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @05:50AM (#26234175) Homepage
  
  whaddya think the "S" in USB stands fer, huh?
  
  - Re:USB != serial (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by Eddi3 ( 1046882 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @06:20AM (#26234229) Homepage Journal
    
    Sexy?
    
    - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by bigstrat2003 ( 1058574 ) * writes:
      
      Scandalous!
    - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by HiVizDiver ( 640486 ) writes:
      
      You owe me a new monitor and keyboard.
  - Re: (Score:2)
    
    by Hillgiant ( 916436 ) writes:
    
    schadenfreude?
- USB = Univeral Serial Bus (Score:2)
  
  by DigitalReverend ( 901909 ) writes:
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB [wikipedia.org]
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Tony Hoyle ( 11698 ) * writes:
  
  Yeah at no point do they say USB - which would be a more complex project (although I guess USB serial controllers are fairly cheap these days).
  - Re:USB ?= serial (Score:1)
    
    by Gible ( 526142 ) writes:
    
    ...except in the first paragraph...
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Q-Hack! ( 37846 ) * writes:
  
  If you haven't yet water cooled your computer, then we must revoke your geek status.
And if using a hard drive step motor? (Score:2)

by crazybit ( 918023 ) writes:

anyone played with these things? would it be harder than the servo?.
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by JuzzFunky ( 796384 ) writes:
  
  Modern Hard Drive motors are not steppers, although they do work in a similar way. Driving them is a more complex than driving a servo. Here's a good article of what's required: http://letsmakerobots.com [letsmakerobots.com]
  - Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
    
    by quitte ( 1098453 ) writes:
    
    That's probably the worst brushless dc controller ever built. As you can see in the video the circuit cannot recover from too low rpm of the motor. He mentions better waveforms at the bottom of the site, though.
    A proper sensorless BLDC controller measures the back EMF at the undriven coils and uses that information to figure out which coils to drive. Also you don't need a common ground for the coils, instead the polarity should switch when both ends of a single coil have the same potential. Of course it's p
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by mustafap ( 452510 ) writes:
  
  Very much so. The hobby servo is one of the simplest devices to hook up to a microcontroller. It will run at 5v, and takes a 5v pulse to position it. The pinouts are very easy to find on the web, as is the software. I have my own code, which I'll publish if there is enough interest.
Microcontroller? (Score:1)

by Mozk ( 844858 ) writes:

I don't see why a microcontroller is necessary for this. There are much simpler and cheaper ICs to control servos.
- Re:Microcontroller? (Score:5, Informative)
  
  by Mozk ( 844858 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @05:41AM (#26234157)
  
  Oh wait, nevermind, they're just trying to sell their kit. You might as well buy an Arduino [wikipedia.org] since it's cheaper and has more applications [arduino.cc]. The only thing it lacks compared to the other is an LCD screen, but I figure it makes up for it by having a big community [arduino.cc].
  
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by Detritus ( 11846 ) writes:
  
  How do you learn something about the technology if you just buy some generic servo transmitter chip? Why bother buying another chip if the microcontroller can do the job?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by betterunixthanunix ( 980855 ) writes:
  
  If it is a con with DSP hardware, it might be interesting to attach an ultrasound SONAR or IRDAR detection mechanism to it, and create a control system that automatically tracks targets. We did something similar in a robotics class once, but it was Lego mindstorms and the tracking was pitiful, because instead of using DSP we just had a simple nonlinear filter in software (if the signal increases when turning left, turn more until the signal decreases); better hardware should yield better results. The wate
This is bad (Score:3, Funny)

by confused one ( 671304 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @06:03AM (#26234201)

Can't you see... If one person builds one, then another will have to build one as well to defend themself. And, so, it escalates. Then comes the larger more powerful water gun. Then the mobile water gun. Then a brilliant but misguided developer creates an artificial intelligence. Building such a weapon will ultimately lead to IT armageddon. Think of the children!

- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by WarJolt ( 990309 ) writes:
  
  We'll just get the armies real gun wielding robot's to take out the water cannons. I think our IT is safe.
- Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
  
  by hax0r_this ( 1073148 ) writes:
  
  Umm... more to the point, its a water gun. Am I the only one who doesn't want a water gun by my computer?
  
  On the other hand, just today I was contemplating building a servo mounted nerf gun, that would seem to be more appropriate for use by an "IT guy".
  - This whole thing is a plot by . . . (Score:2)
    
    by PolygamousRanchKid ( 1290638 ) writes:
    
    Umm... more to the point, its a water gun. Am I the only one who doesn't want a water gun by my computer?
    . . . PC Companies!
    A squirt-gun-damaged, shorted-out PC probably isn't covered by the warranty.
    Time to buy a new one.
    - Re: (Score:2)
      
      by hesiod ( 111176 ) writes:
      
      Umm... more to the point, its a water gun. Am I the only one who doesn't want a water gun by my computer?
      . . . PC Companies!
      Actually, they probably like the idea... then they can sell you another computer.
- Re: (Score:1, Offtopic)
  
  by sleeponthemic ( 1253494 ) writes:
  
  Think of the children!
  Can't. The judge says I've got to atleast think at a barely legal capacity.
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by 64Bit ( 764648 ) writes:
  
  We must close the water gun gap!
- Re: (Score:1)
  
  by Julz ( 9310 ) writes:
  
  I'm sure this would benefit from a webcam and a page with controls :)
Arduino (Score:1, Insightful)

by Anonymous Coward writes:

This would have been easier and cleaner to do with an Arduino
I'm unfamiliar with that substance... (Score:2, Funny)

by acehole ( 174372 ) writes:

Wwwwat-er? Apparently wiki says that its a naturally occurring substance that people 'drink' and do something called 'wash' with.
- - Re:I'm unfamiliar with that substance... (Score:5, Funny)
    
    by Anonymous Coward writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @11:02AM (#26235155)
    
    It's like beer, only less so.
    Oh, so it's like American beer.
    
    - Re: (Score:1, Funny)
      
      by Anonymous Coward writes:
      
      Oh, so it's like American beer.
      My favorite old Aussie joke:
      Q. Why do Americans like their beer freezing cold?
      A. So you can tell it from piss.
      - A coincidence (Score:2)
        
        by thegnu ( 557446 ) writes:
        
        Oh, so it's like American beer.
        My favorite old Aussie joke:
        Q. Why do Americans like their beer freezing cold?
        A. So you can tell it from piss.
        We likewise have a joke about you guys and your taste in beer:
        Fosters: Australian for beer :)
        (I am aware you guys export it more than you drink it)
      - Re: (Score:2)
        
        by tehcyder ( 746570 ) writes:
        
        Q: Why's Australian beer like making love in a canoe?
        A: It's fucking close to water.
Been there, seen that, got wet... (Score:2)

by MRe_nl ( 306212 ) writes:

And for the larger, internet-controlled version, 3 years ago, visit
http://www.robob.nl/node/33 [robob.nl]
Come on, it's almost 2009 already (Score:2)

by Dachannien ( 617929 ) writes:

USB's already been added to everything possible. Shouldn't this thing have Bluetooth?
WTF? (Score:3, Insightful)

by hack slash ( 1064002 ) writes: on Friday December 26, 2008 @10:10AM (#26234879)

Surely this stuff should be on the idle section of slashdot!

If I want DIY servo controlled stuff I can go to http://www.hackaday.com/ [hackaday.com] or http://www.hackedgadgets.com/ [hackedgadgets.com] or http://www.hacknmod.com/ [hacknmod.com] or even http://www.instructables.com/ [instructables.com]

Water and Electronics != Profit (Score:2)

by Anonymous Codger ( 96717 ) writes:

Does anyone else think that maybe firing squirt guns around computers is less than a brilliant idea?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by pegdhcp ( 1158827 ) writes:
  
  Nope, especially if you use CFC...
Hmm... (Score:2)

by Locke2005 ( 849178 ) writes:

Water and electricity in close proximity in a jury-rigged device... what could possibly go wrong?
- Re: (Score:2)
  
  by thegnu ( 557446 ) writes:
  
  USB 3.0 plans to take the voltage down to 4 volts. This move must be resisted at all costs!
  For one, I want to be able to power a 5400rpm laptop HDD off only USB power, and you can't do that on 5v. Or was that an amperage problem. I don't remember.
  The point is, I'M DISSATISIFIED!!!!
not a unique idea. (Score:2)

by Kaenneth ( 82978 ) writes:

A fully automatic water sentry turret for the dining room table, out of lego mindstorms NXT
If a cat gets shooed off a table whenever a human is around, they only learn to stay off the tab;e when a human is around.
water guns and computers? (Score:1)

by sepelester ( 794828 ) writes:

Am I really the first one to point out that they don't mix??

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

What? (Score:1, Offtopic)

Re:What? (Score:5, Funny)

needs the right ammo (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2, Funny)

Re:What? (Score:4, Funny)

Re: (Score:2)

Hoarding a horde? (Score:2)

Re:USB != serial (Score:5, Informative)

Re:USB != serial (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

USB = Univeral Serial Bus (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re:USB ?= serial (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2)

And if using a hard drive step motor? (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

Re: (Score:2)

Microcontroller? (Score:1)

Re:Microcontroller? (Score:5, Informative)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

This is bad (Score:3, Funny)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

This whole thing is a plot by . . . (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Re: (Score:1, Offtopic)

Re: (Score:1)

Re: (Score:1)

Arduino (Score:1, Insightful)

I'm unfamiliar with that substance... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:I'm unfamiliar with that substance... (Score:5, Funny)

Re: (Score:1, Funny)

A coincidence (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Been there, seen that, got wet... (Score:2)

Come on, it's almost 2009 already (Score:2)

WTF? (Score:3, Insightful)

Water and Electronics != Profit (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

Hmm... (Score:2)

Re: (Score:2)

not a unique idea. (Score:2)

water guns and computers? (Score:1)

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