Laser Tag Blaster Automation Remote

While infrared remote controls for TVs, stereos, and the like have undoubtedly made our lives easier, often we’re left fumbling for multiple devices. They also don’t typically control your lights, even if various home automation systems can do so via other means.

As an answer to both problems, YouTuber Make it for less has come up with the laser tag blaster and an ATtiny85 light-switching combo featured in the video below.

The inspiration for this build was a fake IR shooting range at a local sporting goods store, where a variety of animatronics are triggered by a light gun. It should be possible for “home animatronics” to be triggered the same way, and Make it went to work finding the perfect blaster for the job. After finding a suitable donor – with an IR emitter and receiver already built-in – he wired in an Arduino Pro Mini for universal device control, along with a small external display for user feedback.

Modding the blaster appears to have been fairly straightforward for controlling traditional IR appliances. Typical light switches are a different story, however, as they’re by nature a hands-on affair. For this he designed a servo and ATtiny85 setup to mechanically throw the switch and turn the lights on and off.

He describes this project as a silly idea, but a lot of fun. If you want to try something similar, build files are on GitLab. You’ll of course have to find your own blaster!