Re-program an alarm clock to simulate de-fusing a 'device' for a client.

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tmfkam

Senior Member
View attachment 19631

I have been asked by a client if it is possible for someone to undertake to design something similar to the above unit which has a 60 minute timer countdown displayed on a digital display that can be 'defused' by cutting some combination of wires. The countdown is required to be started from a remote office but the choice of how this is started is up to the designer. [WiFi, Bluetooth, Infra Red?] The remote start device will also need to be designed. The wires that are cut would need to be easily replaceable so that the units can be re-used. Initially ten units are required with the working devices to be delivered by late June.

This is to be used in a real time role play type of challenge that will take place in a converted warehouse type of building in Lincoln UK.

If anyone can undertake this challenge, then the customer can be contacted by sending me a PM and I'll forward the email address so that you can discuss your proposal and the cost of the work directly. I have no involvement in this, other than to ask on his behalf.

I hope this is not against the forum rules, if so, I apologise and please remove the post.
 

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Jeff Haas

Senior Member
The original project is by nootropic design and is a custom Arduino board:
https://nootropicdesign.com/defusableclock/

I have one of these (Why?? Impulse buy.) and the firmware has been released as part of the project so that it can be upgraded. This should help someone in the UK get a start on things.

Interesting point about the firmware - it picks the "winning" wire randomly each time. So you have no way to figure out which one will work. As a former video game producer, I would suggest this be changed so each device had a solution and that the teams of people had a chance to figure out a puzzle that would "save" them. Otherwise it's just random chance and most of the teams will "die". Unless that's the point of the exercise (a Kobayashi Maru test).
 
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tmfkam

Senior Member
Thanks for that. It looks as though the later versions of the clock can have the countdown reprogrammed by the user from 10 seconds to 99 minutes. That alone may be all that is needed for the customer. Nootropicdesign also seem to offer a custom programming service so I will point the customer to Nootropicdesign.

Thanks for the information, much appreciated.
 
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tmfkam

Senior Member
I think the dx.com devices are copies of the original and is what I was shown. The later (original) devices can be reprogrammed and have a software upgrade port for updating the firmware, which the device I was shown didn't have.
 
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ZOR

Senior Member
Hope you don't try going through an airport checkout with that sinister looking thing. You will get taken to a place miles away from McDonalds!
 
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tmfkam

Senior Member
The website does have a few warnings regarding where it might be inappropriate to take the device!

Thanks particularly to Jeff.

The customer is I understand going to contact Nootropicdesign and order what he requires from them direct. The $30 they quote for rewriting the software for custom purposes is far less than I would have ever been able to charge for re-creating something similar using PicAxe as I initially thought I would have to do.
 
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ZOR

Senior Member
It's just because the picture shown is labelled dynamite alarm clock? Something I would be useful to wrong persons, certainly looks a dangerous package. Would not like to be woken up with that alarm clock in the morning. Hope all the checks have been done by recognised security authorities. Sorry if I upset anyone but there's enough wrongful things going on in this crazy world.
 
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tmfkam

Senior Member
Jeff Haas said:
Glad I was able to help!

Funny how the customer found the clone version first.
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My boss was sent the clone as a sample. He passed this on (unknown to me) to the customer.

Monday, the customer turns up with a request for it to be rebuilt with a remote start and modified timings. As I couldn't see me being able to re manufacture it with PicAxe in the eight week timeframe, I promised to ask if anyone else was willing to do so.

If I'd known that I could have bought some kits from the designer which could be modified in the Arduino IDE, I'd have been more inclined to accept the commission.
 
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tmfkam

Senior Member
ZOR said:
It's just because the picture shown is labelled dynamite alarm clock? Something I would be useful to wrong persons, certainly looks a dangerous package. Would not like to be woken up with that alarm clock in the morning. Hope all the checks have been done by recognised security authorities. Sorry if I upset anyone but there's enough wrongful things going on in this crazy world.
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It looks at first glance very realistic. I'm not sure I would want to take it to any public place and I'd be worried if I had to leave it on the back seat of the car...

Although the sample the boss was sent travelled from China without problems?
 
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srnet

Senior Member
tmfkam said:
It looks at first glance very realistic. I'm not sure I would want to take it to any public place and I'd be worried if I had to leave it on the back seat of the car...
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I would not think it sensible to make such a realistic device in the first place, easily the sort of 'device' that could cause a major incident.
 
hippy

hippy

Technical Support
Staff member
srnet said:
I would not think it sensible to make such a realistic device in the first place, easily the sort of 'device' that could cause a major incident.
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In appropriate circumstances it is probably okay, but even then there can be unintended consequences.

There is always a chance that someone sees it and mistakes it for the real thing, or overhears a discussion of it, misunderstands and reports that.

Even as a bedside alarm clock I would hate to be in bed, seriously ill and unconscious, have emergency medical teams or the police arrive to help me, discover such an alarm clock and delay assistance while they figured out what it is and what to do, having to determine if it is an attempt to kill first responders.

It is having people jump to the wrong conclusion which needs to be avoided.

Used as a role-playing prop in a professional situation, such a device should be okay but a risk assessment should be performed. If transported disassembled, electronics separate to the 'payload' in sealed boxes, explanatory labels on the boxes, and notices put up explaining the presence and nature of the devices when assembled, risk of adverse consequences should be minimised.
 
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Dartmoor

Member
I believe these are popular for paintball centres etc? However I share Hippy's concerns.
My first picaxe project was an automatic level crossing for a miniature railway. Having got a prototype working on a CHI030 with LED's on the outputs & buttons on the inputs, I took it to the pub to show my friend. When I put it on the table, someone at the bar (with a specialist role in the police) said "Woah! . . . an IED!".
 
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