Pan/Tilt Laser platform

For the mechatronics class, I used a Pan/Tilt Platform with a laser attached to create a targeting system which is controlled by a laptop interface. The video below explains how the system works.

If you would like to duplicate my results the first thing you need to do is collect the following components:
A Tilt/Pan Platform (Hobby king has an affordable one)
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11442
2 Servo Motors
a DB9 Female connector to PC
a USB to serial cable
and a prolific USB to serial driver.
Once you have the driver installed, wire your DB9 according to the following schematic.

The next step is to get a PIC 08M micro-controller and wire it to a breadboard or proto-board according to the following schematic.

Finally, you need 2 servo motors and a laser, wired according to the following schematic. The diode in the diagram is a back EMF suppression Diode, and it is necessary to protect your components when you work with electric motors. Once the circuits are completed, the next step is download the picaxe programming editor. The software can be found at (http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/software.htm). The following code, when uploaded to the board, will cause the pic to wait for serial input on pin 4.

Once the code is uploaded, switch the serial wire (Tx) from program mode to serial input mode and open up a terminal window. The programming editor has a built in terminal screen, but if you want to directly interface with the PIC without having to repeatedly press the SEND button I recommend downloading a terminal emulator. Indigo Terminal Emulator has a 45 day free trial, and can be found at
(http://download.cnet.com/Indigo-Terminal-Emulator/3000-2085_4-10260012.html).
Once you have opened a Terminal screen, the WASD controls can be used to point the laser in any direction you want and is only limited by the range of your tilt/pan platform.

Good luck!