Has anyone tried a "missile lock" tone?

[Chriszuma]

So our video-game-obsessed driver gave me a really good idea today: hook up a buzzer or something similar to one of the LED-out pins on the OI joystick port, so we can have a "missile lock" tone when the camera locks on to the target. I was pondering the possibility of this. He managed to find some piezo buzzers from radioshack that emit 9800Hz at 80dB with 4-28v and 12mA max.
It seems that the oi led pins could drive that, since they provide 10mA at 5v, but I was wondering how practical it would be, or if there is some other factor (rule?) that I am overlooking. Also, how high-pitched is 9800Hz? I would like it to sound as realistic as possible (think BattleField 2 missile battery).

Any thoughts on the plausibility of this insane idea would be appreciated (just don't steal it)

EDIT: I was wrong about the 9800 hz figure; here are some of the parts I am looking at:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tPa ge=search

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...tPa ge=search

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

Also of concern: would a piezo buzzer sound really harsh? Is there any way to get a more sine-like wave?

[Kevin Sevcik]

Here's a link to a Tone Generator for Windows:
http://www.nch.com.au/tonegen/

9800Hz is pretty close to an unbearably high pitch to me. Think about those really high tones in a hearing test. You'll probably want to find a differently tuned buzzer. And remember that it's loud at the competitions and that a buzzer might interfere with your driver hearing his coach or fellow driver.

[KenWittlief]

an LED clipped on the corner of your safety glasses might be more tolerable.

I think the buzzer you have is going to sound like a smoke-alarm

[Chriszuma]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

an LED clipped on the corner of your safety glasses might be more tolerable.

I think the buzzer you have is going to sound like a smoke-alarm

That's actually pretty brilliant. Sort of like those tachometers that flash a light to tell you when you're redlining. I'll have to pitch that idea tomorrow.

[Donut]

We're using a flashing red LED for that. We're thinking of mounting it onto an antena sticking up off of the control board, that way it is in our driver's line of sight.

[kevinw]

We talked about a lock tone a few weeks ago. We came to the conclusion that it might be too loud at the venue to hear the tone, and it may cause the driver / operator to lose focus straining to hear it.

Not to discourage you. If you do implement it, it'd be nice to see what we passed on.

[Chriszuma]

Here's another idea: Put a headphone jack on there, and the driver can plug an earbud into it, and then it will give him a tone when it's locked on. Of course, this would be trickier, because you'd have to put an oscillator or something on there to generate the tone, since I've never seen such a ready-made device. Maybe we can do some circuit-bending.

[KenWittlief]

Originally Posted by Donut

We're using a flashing red LED for that. We're thinking of mounting it onto an antena sticking up off of the control board, that way it is in our driver's line of sight.

Flashing?! wouldnt that look the same as locked, unlocked, locked, unlocked...

how would you know the difference?

[Chriszuma]

How about, instead of visual or auditory, the driver gets a more physical cue. E.g. a small electric shock to the base of the spine...

[KenWittlief]

studies have shown that postive feedback works better. Driver should get a shock until he obtains target lock, then it stops.

Performance incentive :^)

[ForgottenSalad]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

studies have shown that postive feedback works better. Driver should get a shock until he obtains target lock, then it stops.

Performance incentive :^)

As long as I'm not the one driving, why not. =)

[henryBsick]

What about a cluster of colored LEDs that will shine on the plexi of the drivers station aimed at about eye level?

My team originally thought of the LED clipped to the safety glasses thing but didn't want to have to deal with the quick disconnect for autonomous mode requirements.

[Chriszuma]

What about a cluster of colored LEDs that will shine on the plexi of the drivers station aimed at about eye level?

My team originally thought of the LED clipped to the safety glasses thing but didn't want to have to deal with the quick disconnect for autonomous mode requirements.

The only problem is for that to work you'd need some pretty bright LEDs, and the 10mA is unlikely to help you there (maybe if you used all 4 led pins). As for the HULED (Heads-Up-LED as i've just now dubbed it) you could take care of it pretty easily by just putting a standard headphone jack on the controller. I like headphone jacks because they're so easy to connect/disconnect, and they're compact. (Just don't plug a pair of headphones into it, they'll be destroyed instantly)

[Chriszuma]

Originally Posted by KenWittlief

studies have shown that postive feedback works better. Driver should get a shock until he obtains target lock, then it stops.

Performance incentive :^)

hahaha yes! I can also have a knob on the other side of the controller so the second driver can give a shock if driver 1 messes up!