WarGames Clock
If you haven't seen the WarGames movie, do yourself a favour and go watch it right now.
If you have, then you know just how awesome it is. One part, as a kid, I always thought was awesome was the WOPR computer. A key scene in the WarGames movie was when WOPR was trying to figure out the launch codes itself to launch the missiles unilaterally.
In the movie, the cast followed the progress of this attempt on a special panel that was part of the NORAD set.
My uncle, who introduced me to this movie and loves it as much as I do, is having a birthday soon and I wanted to make him a clock that he could sit on his desk that represented this panel.
I plan to 3D print a case that replicates the external parts of this panel and then build the electronics to display the launch code discovery.
My initial thoughts are to have it show a normal clock with the 10 digits avialble, and on the hour, it will commence the launch countdown discovery (for 60 seconds) and exactly on the hour it will have discovered the infamous 'CPE 1704 TKS' launch code.
I've assembled one prototype and so I realised I've made a mistake on the PCB that I will have to fix and recreate. Luckily I won't need to recreate the Stencil as it's the same locations.
Stay tuned for more updates.
PS. If you're looking for a far more polished version of this WOPR countdown device, albeit in a more elegant and modern form factor, complete with DEFCON indicators, check out Unexpected Maker's WOPR Panel, available here.
https://unexpectedmaker.com/shop.html#!/W-O-P-R-Display-Kit/p/578899083
Update 2. Basically done. But will continue to improve.
So I persevered on the weekend and worked out why the LEDs were displaying garbage. Turns out the generic LED Driver libraries don't work as indended with the 15-segment displays I was using.
I wrote a quick array to recreate the characters as I wanted them and updated the libary to use Segment-driving instead of character driving, and Voila! Success!
For the final Rev. 1 prototype, the one I am giving away as a present, It will get the job done. Not perfect, but gets the job done. Rev2 will include some added improvements like a better places USB port, an extra button, better LED placement and easier assembly. Unfortunately real BCD Pushbutton encoders are super expensive, especially considering they don't do anything.. So a 3D printed alternative worked just as well. They came out great. And with a strip of translucent red polycarbonate (i'll cut a new one that fits properly) it looks so much better.
Spent a stupid amount of time creating the case for it as I wanted it. This isn't the final form, as I've updated it to use real M4 screws to hold it together and to give it a more authentic look and the next update will include photos of the fully assembled unit.
