Index
Please note that index links point to page beginnings from the print edition. Locations are approximate in e-readers, and you may need to page down one or more times after clicking or tapping a link to get to the indexed material.
References to figures are in italics.
A
A-frame construction, 17–18
alarm
assembly, 75–78
installation, 79–80
overview, 73–74
parts and tools needed, 74–75
schematic diagram, 75
testing, 79
theory, 80
wiring diagram, 77
AM, 137–138
ambient light compensation, 171–172
Amplitude Modulation, 137–138
antigravity sketch, 167–168, 173–174
Arduino microcontroller board, 81–83
attaching to the levitation machine, 165–166
configuring the Arduino environment, 93–94
programming, 94, 167–168, 198–201
B
balloon popper
assembly, 53–56
parts and tools needed, 54
schematic diagram, 53
testing, 56–57
wiring diagram, 55
See also balloon-popping laser gun
balloon-popping laser gun
assembling the balloon popper, 53–56
assembling the can shooter, 59–65
assembling the ray gun, 50–52
overview, 49–50
overview of can shooter, 57
parts and tools needed, 50
parts and tools needed for can shooter, 57–59
testing the balloon popper, 56–57
testing the can jumper, 65
testing the ray gun, 52–53
theory, 65–66
bug
assembly, 109–114
bug detector, 107
FM transmitter, 107
overview, 107–108
parts and tools needed, 109
schematic diagram, 108
testing, 114
using, 114
See also bug detector
bug detector, 107
assembly, 117–121
overview, 115
parts and tools needed, 117
schematic diagram, 116
testing, 119–121
theory, 121–122
wiring diagram, 120
See also covert radio bug
buying components, 211
C
can shooter
assembly, 59–65
design, 59
overview, 57
parts and tools needed, 57–59
schematic diagram, 58
testing, 65
capacitors, 5–6
circuits, 205
schematic diagrams, 205–206
symbols, 207
coil gun
assembly, 2–8
overview, 1–2
parts and tools needed, 2
schematic diagram, 3
summary, 14
test firing, 8–13
theory, 13–14
wiring diagram, 4
codes for resistors, 208–209
component boxes, 211
component suppliers, 211
continuity test, 214
covert radio bug
assembly, 109–114
bug detector, 107
FM transmitter, 107
overview, 107–108
parts and tools needed, 109
schematic diagram, 108
testing, 114
using, 114
See also bug detector
current, measuring, 213–214
D
Darlington-Pair, 184
datasheets, 208
diffuser, 64
diodes, 210–211
double-throw switches, 7
driving motors, 201–202
dry joints, 212
F
feedback, 137
flash bomb
assembly, 142–146
overview, 141
parts and tools needed, 141–142
schematic diagram, 142
theory, 146–147
using the flash bomb, 146
flash guns, 146–147
FM, 137–138
FM transmitter, 112–114
See also laser voice transmitter
Frequency Modulation, 137–138
G
H
HB LEDs, 149
See also high-brightness LED strobe
high-brightness LED strobe
assembly, 150–156
overview, 149
parts and tools needed, 150
schematic diagram, 151
theory, 157–158
I
intruder alarm
assembly, 75–78
installation, 79–80
overview, 73–74
parts and tools needed, 74–75
schematic diagram, 75
testing, 79
theory, 80
wiring diagram, 77
IR distance sensor, 201
IR proximity detector, 195–196
J
joystick, construction of, 38, 39
L
laser diodes, 71–72
laser gun, balloon-popping
assembling the balloon popper, 53–56
assembling the can shooter, 59–65
assembling the ray gun, 50–52
overview, 49–50
overview of can shooter, 57
parts and tools needed, 50
parts and tools needed for can shooter, 57–59
testing the balloon popper, 56–57
testing the can jumper, 65
testing the ray gun, 52–53
theory, 65–66
laser sight, touch-activated
assembling the sight, 68–71
layout of the components, 69
overview, 67
parts and tools needed, 67–68
schematic diagram, 69
testing and calibration, 71
theory, 71–72
wiring diagram, 71
laser turret, mini
assembly, 36–45
controlling more than one turret from a joystick, 45, 46
overview, 35
parts and tools needed, 35–36
schematic diagram, 37
theory, 45–48
wiring diagram, 44
aligning the transmitter with the receiver, 137
assembly of the receiver, 125–130
assembly of the transmitter, 131–137
duplex transmission, 137
how the receiver works, 140
how the transmitter works, 138–140
parts and tools needed, 125, 131
receiver, 123–124
schematic diagram, 124, 130, 139
testing, 134–135
theory, 137–140
wiring diagram, 128
laser-grid intruder alarm
assembly, 75–78
installation, 79–80
overview, 73–74
parts and tools needed, 74–75
schematic diagram, 75
testing, 79
theory, 80
wiring diagram, 77
LED strobe
assembly, 150–156
overview, 149
parts and tools needed, 150
schematic diagram, 151
theory, 157–158
LEDs
charging, 8
high-brightness LEDs (HB LEDs), 149
using, 157–158
See also high-brightness LED strobe
levitation machine
ambient light compensation, 171–172
assembly, 161–169
basic principles, 170
control software, 172–175
making something to levitate, 168–169
overview, 159
parts and tools needed, 159–160
position sensing, 170–171
programming the Arduino board, 167–168
schematic diagram, 166
testing, 169–170
wiring diagram, 165
light-seeking microbot
assembling the charger, 182–184
assembly, 178–182
overview, 177
parts and tools needed, 178
theory, 184
M
measuring current, 213–214
measuring voltage, 213
Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors. See MOSFETs
microbot, light-seeking
assembling the charger, 182–184
assembly, 178–182
overview, 177
parts and tools needed, 178
theory, 184
microcontroller board, 81–83
attaching to the levitation machine, 165–166
configuring, 93–94
programming, 94, 167–168, 198–201
mini laser turret
assembly, 36–45
controlling more than one turret from a joystick, 45, 46
overview, 35
parts and tools needed, 35–36
schematic diagram, 37
theory, 45–48
wiring diagram, 44
minigun, ping-pong ball
assembly, 27–31
finding the muzzle velocity, 31–33
overview, 25–26
parts and tools needed, 26–27
testing, 31
theory, 33
MOSFETs, 65–66
motor controllers
assembly, 97–100
overview, 96
parts and tools needed, 97, 98
pulse width modulation, 106
schematic diagram, 97
wiring diagram, 101
motor drivers, 187–191
multimeters, 213–214
muzzle velocity, measuring, 31–33
O
operational amplifiers, 138–139
oscilloscopes, 214–215
P
persistence of vision, theory of, 103, 104
persistence-of-vision display
Arduino microcontroller board, 81–83
Arduino sketch (program code), 103–106
assembling the woodwork, 95–96
assembly, 85–89
changing the message, 102–103
computer setup, 89–93
configuring the Arduino environment, 93–94
installing on Linux, 93
installing on Mac OS X, 92–93
installing on Windows, 89–92
making the battery connector, 95
motor controller, 96–100, 101, 106
parts and tools needed, 84–85
platform, 100
programming the Arduino board, 94
putting it all together, 100–102
schematic diagram, 84
stripboard layout for the LED module, 86
testing the LED module, 94–95
theory, 103–106
phototransistors, 66
ping-pong ball minigun
assembly, 27–31
finding the muzzle velocity, 31–33
overview, 25–26
parts and tools needed, 26–27
testing, 31
theory, 33
PIR sensors, 194–195
pliers, 211–212
position sensing, 170–171
projectiles, 8
measuring projectile speed, 9–10
pulse width modulation. See PWM
PWM, 106
R
radio bug
assembly, 109–114
bug detector, 107
FM transmitter, 107
overview, 107–108
parts and tools needed, 109
schematic diagram, 108
testing, 114
using, 114
See also bug detector
ray gun
assembly, 50–52
testing, 52–53
wiring diagram, 52
See also balloon-popping laser gun
resistance measurement, 214
resistors, 208–209
robots. See light-seeking microbot; surveillance robot
S
schematic diagrams
example, 206
general information, 205
SCRs (silicone-controlled rectifiers), 4, 6
servo motors, 45–47
servos, 39–41
adjusting the servo arms, 43
shield boards, 83
sight, assembly, 68–71
sling. See trebuchet
snailbot
assembling the charger, 182–184
assembly, 178–182
overview, 177
parts and tools needed, 178
theory, 184
snips, 211–212
soldering, 212
stripboard, 41–43, 70, 85–87, 97–99, 109, 110
stripping wires, 211–212
suppliers, 211
surveillance robot
assembling it all, 191–197
assembling the motor drivers, 187–191
overview, 185
parts and tools needed, 187, 191–192
testing, 198
testing the motor controller module, 189–191
wiring diagram, 191
switches, double-throw, 7
symbols for common electronics, 207
T
Thyristors, 4
See also SCRs (silicone-controlled rectifiers)
time travel, 137
timer ICs, 47–48
tools
basic tools needed, 211
component boxes, 211
multimeters, 213–214
oscilloscopes, 214–215
snips and pliers, 211–212
soldering, 212
touch-activated laser sight
assembling the sight, 68–71
layout of the components, 69
overview, 67
parts and tools needed, 67–68
schematic diagram, 69
testing and calibration, 71
theory, 71–72
wiring diagram, 71
transistors, 209–210
trebuchet
action, 16
assembly, 17–22
cutting list, 17
firing, 22
overview, 15–16
parts and tools needed, 16–17
theory, 22–23
tuning, 22
V
voice transmitter
aligning the transmitter with the receiver, 137
assembly of the receiver, 125–130
assembly of the transmitter, 131–137
duplex transmission, 137
how the receiver works, 140
how the transmitter works, 138–140
parts and tools needed, 125, 131
receiver, 123–124
schematic diagram, 124, 130, 139
testing, 134–135
theory, 137–140
wiring diagram, 128
voltage, measuring, 213
W
wire stripping, 211–212