Adam here,
Hello everyone. I'm new to the Arduino and am glad to see the plethora of info that can be found on the web. I have built some pretty cool interactive game props that I use in my Escape Rooms and have a new project to tackle. Seen here - Lazer Mesh Cut | A Spy Experience Game on Vimeo or a quick read here - Laser Maze Brings Heist Fantasies To Life - Seeker
I've ordered the lasers and photocells, will be using the Uno, and would greatly appreciate the help in writing the code. I've been able to write the code for one laser, but haven't been able to turn the system off in the event of tripping the laser. The code activates an alarm if the laser is tripped, I'd rather have it do what this video shows.
Ultimately, navigating this maze successfully and standing on a pressure plate, the glass would drop down and allow access for the robbers to steal the Hope Diamond.
Thanks to all for chiming in!
To turn the system off, you can cut the laser power supply, using e.g. a relay module.
That would work, it would be instantaneous as to not harm the players. I'd like to use the output for tripping the laser to allow 3 things to happen; the alarm would sound for 2-3 seconds, a red rotating beacon to turn on until a reset switch/button was toggled at the beginning of the maze, and the accent lighting in the room suddenly change from the red to a bluish white. I haven't any clue as how to reset the game, player initiated basically.
So far, I can write the code for one laser. If then having 10 lasers with all of the same inputs for the signal on whether or not the beam has been interrupted, can that be done? (I'm thinking just daisy chaining all the signal leads from each photocell together into one pin on the Arduino.)
This seems like it is complicated and I may be over my head on this one being a newbie. The idea is there, I just need to continue learning programming. Any help there would be hands down awesome.
Have you learned the Make Many Things Happen At Once lesson?
It starts with using millis() to time event triggers, the main goal is teaching non-blocking code?
How much winter did you get in The Great Down East lately? Could be worse, could be in Presque Isle!
If you prefer hardware solutions, the photocells can be connected to a port expander, which raises an interrupt if any beam is interrupted. Else poll the photocells in code.
GoForSmoke, thanks I'll check into that. We haven't gotten much so far lol yeah used to live in Caribou so I know what the county is like.
I'll see if I can find that lesson. I am eager to learn so I'm soaking up as much as I can! I'll post some code soon, waiting for the lasers to come in, should be Wednesday-ish. After mocking up and wiring it on a breadboard, I'll see if I can get it to work lol