Interactive Kickboxing

I have attempted creating an interactive kickboxing bag. The final product would detect whole variety of punches, differentiate whether user used their right or left hand and would be programmable via laptop.

It would consist of 4 DIY FSR sensors, 4x 13,56 Mhz antennas in the middle of each sensor, its all powered by Arduino Uno code. A soldering set is needed to create this project

I have used a modified version of this project to create DIY FSR sensors, $ http://iainmccurdy.org/diy/forcesensorfoam/forcesensorfoam.html $ .

I have paid more attention to protection of the soldered spot, because these sensors will have to withstand more brute force. I flipped the extended copper tape, top to bottom and folded it in half, so that its attached to the non copper side as well. This way the the wires soldering spot is encapsulated.

I have decided to make DIY ~ 14x14cm FSR sensors because commercial ones would break the budget. I have not tested commercial FSR sensors with this project. I have created a couple of FSR sensors however, only the first worked well. I might investigate them later.

In order to detect whether user has thrown left or right punch I chose RFID technology at 13.56 Mhz, mostly because its detection range was well suited for my final product.

I have determined that the placing copper based FSR sensors over the antennas would reduce the antenna zone down almost to zero. Thus making a hole inside the FSR sensor, placing an antenna there and protecting it with eg. thick HD-EVA foam could be a great solution.

All of the 4 antenna placed in the middle of FSR squares are to be wired at the top of the machine, best if protected with a plastic box.