Laser Tag Capstone Project

Overview

This project is a capstone endeavor focused on creating an advanced laser tag system. The system combines custom-built hardware and software to deliver an immersive and interactive laser tag experience. From real-time scoring to dynamic gameplay, this project demonstrates the seamless integration of cutting-edge technology and fun!

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Features

• Real-Time Scoring System: Tracks players' scores and updates in real-time.
• Interactive Gameplay: Multiple game modes, including Free-For-All, Single Player, and Two-Player modes.
• User-Friendly Interface: A mobile interface to display game visuals and player statistics.
• Custom Laser Tag Hardware: Laser guns with infrared sensors and motion detection capabilities, enhancing the gameplay experience.

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Technologies Used

• Hardware: Arduino, Infrared Sensors, Beetle BLE, MPU6050 accelerometer and gyroscope.
• Hardware AI: AI Accelerator on FPGA for processing player actions and gameplay data.
• Internal Communications: Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity and Relay Node for seamless device communication.
• External Communications: TLS/SSL Protocol for secure server-client interaction.
• Software: Unity Game Engine for game development and a responsive game UI for visualizer devices.

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System Setup

1. Reverse SSH Connection

Establish a connection between the Evaluation Client (running locally) and the Evaluation Server (running on Ultra96):

ssh -R 9999:localhost:<eval_port> xilinx@makerslab-fpga-21.d2.comp.nus.edu.sg

Replace <eval_port> with the port number provided by the evaluation server. This step ensures secure communication between the two components.

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2. Running the External Communications Script

Open a new terminal and log in to the Ultra96 server:

ssh xilinx@makerslab-fpga-21.d2.comp.nus.edu.sg
sudo -i
cd /home/xilinx/external_comms/
python3 main.py

This command initiates the main.py script, which handles external communications between the Ultra96 FPGA and the evaluation server. The AI bitstream can be found inside /AI/hls folder.

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3. Setting Up Hardware Devices

While the external communications script is running:

1. Ensure all hardware peripherals (laser guns, gloves, and leg devices) are powered on and securely connected to their batteries.
2. Verify that the peripherals are ready for use.

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4. Connecting Node Relay and Beetle Peripherals

On the Node Relay laptop:

1. Open 2 terminals, one for each player.
2. cd Internal_Comms/player_{PLAYER_ID}, PLAYER_ID = 1 or 2
3. Ensure that the laptop is connected to the NUS wifi, or use forticlient to connect.
4. Ensure that the laptop bluetooth is on.
5. Run the main.py script to establish a connection with the beetle peripherals:

cd Internal_Comms/player_{PLAYER_ID} #PLAYER_ID = 1 or 2
python3 main.py

6. Monitor the terminal for notifications to ensure that all the beetles peripherals and server are connected.

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5. Visualizer Setup

Building:

1. Open the Laser Tag++ project on Unity
2. File -> Build Settings -> Build and Run
3. Create a new folder "Builds"
4. Open XCode and build to an iPhone

Running App:

1. Ensure the visualizer devices are connected to the NUS SoC Wi-Fi. If not, enable FortiClient AND connect to SoC VPN for network access.
2. Launch the visualizer app on each device.
3. Initialize the player within the app.

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Gameplay

Once all components are set up, you are ready to play! The system offers:

• Real-time updates of player scores and actions.
• Visual effects and animations for a rich and immersive environment.

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Troubleshooting

• Connection Issues: Check network connectivity and verify that all scripts are running without errors.
• Peripherals Not Responding: Ensure batteries are fully charged, and devices are switched on.
• Visualizer Not Loading: Verify NUS Wi-Fi connection or FortiClient status.

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Future Enhancements

• Implementing additional game modes for diverse player preferences.
• Optimizing hardware AI for faster response times.
• Expanding compatibility with various hardware platforms.

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Have Fun!

Enjoy the immersive AR Laser Tag experience.