Project: GPFC = Working sim grenades and more

General Purpose Field Computer

Due to the low price of electronics this project can now be realised.

Initially I just wanted a wireless device to simulate area effect damage.
Then I though, might as well use all this spare processing power for something.
Add a screen and it becomes much more useful.
Bleed out/ respawn timer etc.

We have a cheap small device that is given to everyone on the field.
This will allow us us to simulate Grenades, Radiation, Artillery etc
Limited by your imagination
Maybe a ping device, push a button and all units in the area go beep.

The device consists of
$2 microprocessor (AVR Mega8)
$2 433mhz radio module.
$4 Screen
$2 battery
$10 support circuitry.
45mins of assembly.
Should measure 60x40x15mm

How would it work?
For a grenade, well push button on grenade, throw it, anyone within a 10m radius starts beeping.

Radiation, if you get near a radioactive source, you start accumulating radiation.
The closer you are the faster you get irradiated.
Until you die.

Artillery, same as grenade but a bigger effect area. 25-30m
The transmitter could be thrown or hidden and activated remotely.
I would probably want to add a speaker to the transmitter so players know they are getting killed by an Artillery strike.

Did some preliminary testing and have order parts to make 10x units.

Prototype Rev1
70w x34h x24t
Will be 2mm thinner when I get the proper LCD screen.


AA and AAA battery for size comparison.


Looking swish in a jacket of black shrink wrap. :slight_smile:

RX Program done.

The grenade/tx

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Jar + Fluro paint

Flip cover, Push/Hold button, release, throw :slight_smile:

So if you need a radiation source and giger counters, let me know :wink:

These are amazing! The ability to alter the way the little individual units work would be cool, even if it’s as simple as adding or removing different effects or messages that are relevant to the system of the LARP they are being used in.

Tetrajak, definitely.
I will make the code available to anyone that want’s it.

Updating the firmware is as easy as connecting to your computer.

Another application is say detection of supernatural forces.
Replace the buzzer with a vibrate mode and you can ‘feel’ when something is afoot.

Hmmm … that could suit Dreams in the Witch house …

in fact, could be used to help with their “Terrifyingness” mechanic (i.e. which kinds of things frighten which characters)

[quote]Another application is say detection of supernatural forces.
Replace the buzzer with a vibrate mode and you can ‘feel’ when something is afoot.[/quote]

[quote]Hmmm … that could suit Dreams in the Witch house …

in fact, could be used to help with their “Terrifyingness” mechanic (i.e. which kinds of things frighten which characters)[/quote]

That is just … wow. Awesome!

I wonder if it could work for Witch House. Given that our terror threshold can drop mid-encounter, I’m not quite sure how it could be done, but imagine how awful it would be if you were out in the dark and your ‘terror encounter device’ started buzzing before you even saw the monster. “What was that? Where is it?!? Where IS it?!?” :mrgreen:

lol, that does sound scary/interesting. :open_mouth: :smiley:

YES - YES YES YES. Would you like to help crew the starwars weekend event? :smiley:

“He’s got a thermal detonator!”

I had a quick look but could not find a date?

I had a quick look but could not find a date?[/quote]

No date yet - currently organising Chimera and my optional date was taken by teonn - means a few more day games (and somtime next year for weekend)

Vibrate motor added to rev7

Say, is that a vibrator in your pocket or are you just happy to see me? :wink:

Nah, I’ve just been fragged :’(


Using the most convenient off the shelf enclosure I reworked the layout to make it fit.
UB5 from Jaycar. $3.30 in bulk via retail.

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Latest price
The device consists of
$2 microprocessor (AVR Mega8)
$3 Nordic nRF24L01+
$4 Screen
$2 battery
$15 support circuitry, PCB.
$3 Enclosure

$29

45mins of assembly.


Have decided to change the display.
More screen space.

The screen was used in various nokia phones :wink:
http://www.gsmarena.com/nokia-phones-f-1-0-p6.php
5110/3310 etc

Cost should remain the same as some components can now be omitted.
Will also have to change the cpu as the code to drive the display takes up 4kb.
Current micro is only 8kb total, with 1kb used by the boot loader.
So only 3kb left for programs.
Going to a mega 328 with a massive 32kb space.

I will be making a set for an upcoming game.
20-30x funds pending
gnear.net/
Once done we can add it to the gear pool :slight_smile:

Great stuff, this is an amazing piece of kit !! I think NZLARPS would be well served by building a bunch of these :slight_smile:

Takes me right back to my introduction to computers and my Atari 400. It is incredible what you can do with limited memory.