So I am looking to make a geocache container with several different functions. All my research keeps leading me to Arduino's. I have ZERO experience with coding. I do consider myself tech savvy and a willing learner. With that said, am I in over my head. Below is a snap shot of what I'd like to accomplish.
So I am looking to make a geocache container
A geocache container is one that can be opened based on where it is. That doesn't look to be the case with your device.
How will the user know which pins to short together? Or, is it simply a guessing game?
Nothing about the problem looks challenging, except for the lack of requirements.
A reverse geocache puzzle is one that requires you be in a certain location. This is not that.
You are correct about the pins. There will be clues at previous stages that will help them determine what 2 pins to connect. This is just the final stage in what is called a multi-cache.
There's about a bazillion free tutorials on C on the Net and one of them will surely make sense to you. You might google "Arduino C, beginning" as a starting point.
Hello Cory.
I don't think you are in over your head. Seems simple enough if your willing to learn. However I'm not seeing a question, are you asking for advice? And if so, are we talking hardware advice (probably best post in a different forum section if so), or programming advice?
Thanks. I will check out the beginners vids
My question was am i in over my head. Since the general consensus is no I can proceed to the next obvious question. Where to start? I have ordered an Arduino starter kit. Not sure what else I will need beyond that. Then obviously the coding questions come. Sounds like the vids that econjack suggested might point me in the right direction? But any programming suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.
Read Robins thread:
It will most likely answer most if not all of your questions and give you a clear picture of what you can and should be doing.
As for hardware, LCD, some sort of releasing latch, an Arduino, and wire.
Very interesting project idea.
Not sure if it would qualify as a true multi given the puzzle nature of opening the final stage. Mystery might be a better listing.
This sounds like a great cache if it can be made robust enough to survive some of the uncaring cachers out there.
You have probably found caches where previous finders did not return things properly. Ammo cans left open etc so your planning should allow for some of that. Maybe design the inner door so it will not stay open, gravity or springs perhaps.
Power might be a concern. If easy to run electricity to project(say the cache in in your yard) then power would be easy. But if needing to run on batteries and cache is not convenient for maintenance then power may be a major hassle. Otherwise someone will eventually break the inner door if the batteries are dead.
So maybe a latching switch if running on batteries. Cacher presses button when they open the fire safe. This powers up the Arduino and LCD for say 5 minutes and then shuts down power. Someone will forget to switch unit back off if using a simple power switch so I think a power limiting timer would be very important unless you like changing batteries.
The more I think about this the more I am hoping this cache will be in your yard. And I really don't like caches in people's yards.
But it would help limit power/maintenance and depending on where you live it might keep your cache from being mistaken for a bomb. I can see a muggle finding a box with wires and a LCD that appears to be counting down and things getting way out of hand.
Frostline:
Very interesting project idea.
Not sure if it would qualify as a true multi given the puzzle nature of opening the final stage. Mystery might be a better listing.
This sounds like a great cache if it can be made robust enough to survive some of the uncaring cachers out there.
You have probably found caches where previous finders did not return things properly. Ammo cans left open etc so your planning should allow for some of that. Maybe design the inner door so it will not stay open, gravity or springs perhaps.
Power might be a concern. If easy to run electricity to project(say the cache in in your yard) then power would be easy. But if needing to run on batteries and cache is not convenient for maintenance then power may be a major hassle. Otherwise someone will eventually break the inner door if the batteries are dead.
So maybe a latching switch if running on batteries. Cacher presses button when they open the fire safe. This powers up the Arduino and LCD for say 5 minutes and then shuts down power. Someone will forget to switch unit back off if using a simple power switch so I think a power limiting timer would be very important unless you like changing batteries.
The more I think about this the more I am hoping this cache will be in your yard. And I really don't like caches in people's yards.
But it would help limit power/maintenance and depending on where you live it might keep your cache from being mistaken for a bomb. I can see a muggle finding a box with wires and a LCD that appears to be counting down and things getting way out of hand.
This will most certainly not be in my yard. This will be in the field so batteries are going to be my only option. My original idea was to have the hardware powered only when the fire safe lid is up. But a power switch is not a bad idea either. To cut down on muggles and other nefarious users I will be making this a members only cache. That usually keeps it to very dedicated geocachers. My arduino came in the mail today. So I am excited to start playing with it. I am sure I will be back with a lot of questions and needed help.
Lid == door ?
Countdown clock == timer ?