Getting Started - Reaction Timer

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello all,

I am very new to using Arduino, (in fact I don't have one yet). What I would like is just a little direction for necessary components/hardware for a small idea I would like to try and build.

What I would like to create is a reaction timer. The idea is to have it on a hand held punching bag.

  1. A button is pressed.
  2. Within a random amount of time an LED lights up
  3. User strikes the bag as fast as they can.
  4. Small LCD displays time from light to hit
  5. A bonus would be for the LCD to display the force the bag was hit with.

I assume I would need something along the lines of: Arduino, LCD screen, Accelormeter, LED?
Anything I am missing?
Is this a reasonable project for a first attempt?

Thanks for your ideas/suggestions.

2

You forgot the button for Step 1.

By 'bag' Im guessing you mean some kind of punching bag. In that case the accelerometer is probably a good choice. You could even display the direction of the strike.

3

Anything I am missing?

not real but plenty ways to expand the sketch

  • multiplayer support
  • difficulty level (multiple leds and you may only hit if the right led is lit - the lcd says which led in front)
  • training mode
  • progress monitoring, do you get faster?