Control your Marks and Spencer USB Missile Launcher on Linux (and maybe other platforms that support python and libusb).

Tested on

• Ubuntu-5.04
• (please report other success stories)

Requirements

1. python (>=2.3)
2. libusb (>=0.1.8)
3. pyusb (==0.3.1) python module with patch included below
4. urwid python module

Install

1. ensure python is installed and right version
2. install libusb-0.1.18 or better (available here) or use package appropriate for your distro, e.g. on ubuntu:

$ sudo apt-get install libusb-dev

3. install pyusb-0.3.1 (available here or archived here) but patched (see below):

$ wget http://pymissile.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/pyusb-0.3.1.tar.gz
$ tar zxvf pyusb-0.3.1.tar.gz
$ cd pyusb-0.3.1
$ wget http://pymissile.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/pyusb-0.3.1-kernel-detach.patch
$ patch -p1 < pyusb-0.3.1-kernel-detach.patch
$ sudo python setup.py install

4. install urwid-0.8.10 (available here)
5. plug in Missile Launcher
6. run missile.py as root (maybe non-root will work if you mess with libusb, let me know the details if that's the case)

$ wget http://pymissile.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/missile.py 
$ chmod +x ./missile.py
$ sudo ./missile.py

Screenshot and Videos

video 1 | video 2

Usage

1. Install
2. Aim
3. ...
4. Profit$

Todo

• commandline interface
• use webcam and motion to have automated sentry (aim and fire)
• DONE but not documented yet
• daemon and xmlrpc interface for remote aim and shooting of coworkers
• SORT OF DONE: manual control is available via the above TODO, needs documentation