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Arduino Laser Tripwire

by Adum24 on January 17, 2011

Table of Contents

Arduino Laser Tripwire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Arduino Laser Tripwire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Laser Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3: Solder and Install Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 4: Reciever Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 5: Reciever Schematic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 6: The Sketch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 7: Install Reciever Circuit and Arduino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 8: Finishing Touches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
 Author:Adum24
I love doing anything with electronics. You're throwing away an old tv? I'll take it! I also love machinery, robots, sci-fi, and techno music.

Intro: Arduino Laser Tripwire

Hey, there makers, hackers, and just plain inventors! This instructable is a fun and easy Arduino project for beginners (or advanced) that shows you how to
make...ahem...drum roll please!
An Arduino Laser Security System! Bah, Bah, Bah,Baaaaaaaahhh! It uses simple electronic components, and an easy-to-use sketch. Basically what happens, is the
laser shines on a photoresistor that sends an output to the Arduino. When the beam is interrupted, the arduino tells the buzzer to buzz, and the LED to light. So, without
further ado, lets get started!

P.S. I wuz having trouble getting a video on here if it doent work, go to this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBTUJaXDccI

Image Notes
1. Hooray, Arduino!

Step 1: Materials
This is an easy project, and requires a small amount of materials/tools. They are:

Materials:
Altoids Tin x 2 (one big, one small)
Arduino
Battery cord
3 volt button cell battery
Wire (any gauge will do)
Circuit board
Photo resistor
Buzzer
Laser diode
Stay-on push button
Switch
LED
10k resistor

Tools:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
Wire cutter
Soldering iron
Nail
Hammer
Hot glue gun/glue sticks

Step 2: Laser Housing

Okay, let start! Begin by nailing two holes into the side of the smaller Altoids tin. make them as low as possible, so that the top doesn't get in the way.

Step 3: Solder and Install Laser

Solder together the laser diode, the stay-on push button, and the button cell battery. Install them in the two holes you made earlier with hot glue.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
Step 4: Reciever Housing
Nail two holes in the bigger Altoids tin (one on each side in opposite corners). Now cut a piece of foam or rubber and place it on the bottom of the Altoids tin to insulate it.

Step 5: Reciever Schematic

Solder together your photo resistor,LED, Buzzer, and 10k resistor according to this schematic.

Step 6: The Sketch

This is the sketch for the Arduino. Copy and paste it into the sketch environment. Then upload it to the Arduino.

//Laser Tripwire sketch

#define LED 13 //LED is connected to pin 13

#define Buzzer 7 //Buzzer is connected to pin 7

#define Sensor 0 //Photoresistor is connected to pin 0

int val = 0; //val is used to store state of input pin

void setup() {

pinMode(LED, OUTPUT); //sets digital pin as output

pinMode(Buzzer, OUTPUT); //sets digital pin as output

pinMode(Sensor, INPUT); //sets analog pin as input

void loop() {

val = analogRead(Sensor); //read input value of sensor and store it

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
 if (val<100) // if the sensor goes below 100...
{
digitalWrite(LED, HIGH); //turn on LED
digitalWrite(Buzzer, HIGH); //turn on buzzer
}
else if (val>100)
{
digitalWrite(LED, LOW); //else, keep LED off
digitalWrite(Buzzer, LOW); //else, keep Buzzer off
}
}

Step 7: Install Reciever Circuit and Arduino

Make your connections to all the pins on the Arduino, then insert it into the Altoids tin. Make sure to cut two holes in the top of the Altoids tin for the buzzer and LED. You
also will need to bend the photo resistor to align with your hole.

Step 8: Finishing Touches

The last step is to solder the switch and battery to the cord coming from the Arduino. Congratulations! You have just successfully made an Arduino Laser Tripwire! Have
fun, and catch people in the act!

Image Notes
1. This is the cord you solder the switch and battery to.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
Related Instructables

Mobius Lantern
by susannes
Twittering Laser Arduino Laser Arduino and Another DIY Laser
Tripwire with Security Shield battery pack in Arduino Laser Shutter by
Webcam by Bitline Altoids tins by Tripwire by amaloney
Capture by AdHd Jonathan Robson
action_owl

Comments
14 comments Add Comment

iceng says: Feb 14, 2011. 10:24 PM REPLY

What was the longest distance that your 'Tripwire' worked on? I ask, because I can plink ( ie light-up ) a stop sign over a block away with a small $3 laser
pointer.

Adum24 says: Feb 17, 2011. 2:49 PM REPLY

Yeah, same here. IT just depends on battery life and your laser. It will go very far.
Although, its harder to line up with the hole.

1324itouch says: Feb 2, 2011. 7:43 PM REPLY

were did you get that laser ?

Adum24 says: Feb 4, 2011. 2:33 PM REPLY

I got it out of a cheap light up top. When you spun it, the laser made a circle around the top because it was spinning so fast. Why?

MPaulHolmes says: Jan 25, 2011. 6:48 PM REPLY

Boy, I can think of a lot of fun uses for a laser trip wire. I could get a bunch set up in my room, and keep the valuables right in the open, adn people could try
to steal them, or I could do dive rolls, and try to defeat it! This sounds so fun! Thank you!! My son is going to love this one.

Adum24 says: Jan 26, 2011. 3:53 PM REPLY

Anytime!!

rtty21 says: Jan 25, 2011. 2:41 PM REPLY

Isn't Arduino just BOSS?

Adum24 says: Jan 25, 2011. 3:35 PM REPLY

LOL, TOTALLY, MAN!!!!!!

rtty21 says: Jan 23, 2011. 2:34 PM REPLY

Subscribed on youtube and instructables!!

Adum24 says: Jan 24, 2011. 3:43 PM REPLY

THNX!!

Jedx says: Jan 24, 2011. 11:23 AM REPLY

Whoa, where can I get those Dark Chocoate Altoids?

Adum24 says: Jan 24, 2011. 3:43 PM REPLY

LOL, Im not sure. My science teacher has like 3 gazillion she's not sure what to do with, so I asked for one. She said,"Yes, please take it!" I think you can
get it at walgreens or someplace like that, though.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/
 04mewm says: Jan 24, 2011. 10:07 AM REPLY
Good write up on a nice simple arduino project, but how about making it a bit more useful by programming it to keep the buzzer on after it has been tripped
and adding a reset button? Or if you haven't got an extra button to hand you could just use the existing arduino reset button.

Adum24 says: Jan 24, 2011. 3:42 PM REPLY

Oh, good point. I'll look into it. Great suggestion! I think I'll leave it like that for now, but great idea!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Laser-Tripwire-1/