Distance Sensitive Air Cannon

I conceptualize and build a distance sensitive air cannon using PVC pipes, a sprinkler solenoid, a barometer, an Arduino, an ultrasonic distance sensor, an air pump, and a simple transistor circuit. This is a freshman year project I completed in the dorms to experiment with an Arduino and realize an original design. I led a team of three students to complete the final product. The cannon can automatically detect a bucket, start pumping air, and release the valve at the right time to consistently hit the target. Moreover, the cannon automatically stops pumping and waits for the user to move the target until it begins the firing process again.