Open-Source Sentry Gun Plans Promise The Next Level Of Office Warfare

We admit it, we were browsing Reddit when we found this beautifully hacked together Nerf Sentry turret. But are we ever glad we did — as it turns out, it is very similar to the totally awesome, open-source Project Sentry Gun.

We have actually covered a project that used that system before, but it looks like it has evolved a bit more since then. It’s just too cool not to share.

The system itself is quite simple and easy to build. You’re going to need three servo motors, an Arduino, a webcam, and assorted wires, nuts and bolts, etc etc. Grab a copy of the code, slap it all together, and you’re ready for business!

Just take a look at the following video of the Gladiator II Paintball Sentry Gun — we know you’re going to want to build one now.

Though we must say… this double barreled version (not based off of Project Sentry Gun) is a bit more intimidating.

[via Reddit]

18 thoughts on “Open-Source Sentry Gun Plans Promise The Next Level Of Office Warfare

          1. Not when you nerf a Nerf.
            When you nerf a nerfed Nerf, it makes it more dangerous than the nerfed Nerf, but not as dangerous as the Nerf before it was nerfed.

  1. Great build. Looks like the tracking lags a little behind the target. So a target could simply run fast enough to beat the sentry gun.

    Also, what about adding in a feature for IFF. Could an IR reflective patch be used?

    1. The lag issue was due to the WIFI transmission from the microprocessor to the computer that handle the targeting. This projects is two years old and then was difficult to get OpenCV in a single board. Also it uses Phidgets at the time. The new version uses a Raspberry PI and everything is handled inside it.

    2. The lag on tracking is probably a combination of a slow camera and the image processing. Most webcams really suck.

      IR sounds good.

      I got complicated with the IFF. I saw the color and thought it was too easy to duplicate by enemies. Use challenge-response authentication. Put a blinking IR LED unit on everyone. The sentry lases a target and the target must blink back a friendly code. Maybe send back a user ID encrypted with a public key, or have the sentry laser send a nonce and the blinker sends a hash(nonce+ID)

      1. The problem with a blinking IR LED IFF (M.O.U.S.E.) is that you make your men perfect targets for anyone with IR goggles, maybe IR reflective QR Code in a Cadpat camo?

Leave a Reply to airmansnuffyCancel reply

Please be kind and respectful to help make the comments section excellent. (Comment Policy)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.