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ElectronicsDemo buildVideo published 18 June 2026

Nerf chronograph.

A home-built chronograph, demonstrated with foam darts.

HOW IT WORKS / TWO INFRARED GATESGATE 1GATE 2Distance ÷ elapsed time = speed

How it works · A diagram of the two-gate measurement principle.

Build notes

Two infrared gates detect the dart passing. A Pico 2 W measures the time between them and calculates its speed from the distance between the gates.

The sensor signal passes through an LM393 comparator and a 74HC14 Schmitt trigger to give the Pico a clean signal. The demo mounts the assembly on a Rhino blaster; the next idea is more beams per gate so the dart doesn't have to pass through one perfect line.

STAY WITH THE BUILD

What’s in this one.

A full parts list isn’t published yet. This is what the film actually shows.

  1. Two infrared gates
  2. Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W
  3. LM393 comparator
  4. 74HC14 Schmitt trigger
  5. Rhino blaster, used for the demo

ANOTHER BUILD

QIDI Plus 5 & the sim wheel ↗
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