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Open-ended Remote Controlled Airsoft System (ORCAS) Overview

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YungChi Lin Open-ended Remote Controlled Airsoft System (ORCAS) Overview

YuChung Lin developed the Open-ended Remote Controlled Airsoft System (ORCAS), a wireless gel blaster turret controlled through a mobile phone's web browser. The turret's core firing mechanism uses a modified Jinming Gen8 gel blaster gearbox, which shoots 7-8mm gel balls. It's equipped with various sensors and viewing components to aid in its operation. A Raspberry Pi camera module provides a first-person view for navigation, while a separate LED board illuminates the forward view. For target acquisition, an infrared laser ranging sensor measures the distance to the target, and a laser head assists with zeroing. Additionally, the system includes an ultrasonic rangefinder that acts as a radar, detecting nearby objects.

The ORCAS turret's intricate motion and functionality are managed by several electronic components. A STM32F103 microcontroller (MCU) serves as the central control unit, coordinating commands and data from the various parts. The pan and tilt movements of the turret are powered by two NEMA 17 stepper motors, and two smaller 15BY micro stepper motors handle the gel ball feeding and radar rotation. A Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W board hosts a static web server, creating the user interface and managing the wireless communication, which includes streaming the camera's view to a connected client and transmitting user commands back to the MCU. The entire system is powered by a 12V supply and an additional airsoft battery.

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