Smart Pong Table with Interactive LED Lighting

Welcome to the Ultimate Smart Pong Table project! This is not your ordinary beer pong table—it's an interactive, fully automated, LED-illuminated, game-changing experience. Whether you're a casual player or a beer pong champion, this table brings a whole new level of excitement to the game.

Table of Contents

• Features
• Hardware Overview
• Software Architecture
• Setup and Installation
• Game Modes
• How It Works
• Gallery
• Table Blueprints
• License

Features

• Dynamic LED Animations: Watch as the table comes to life with vibrant LED patterns that react to game events.
• Multiple Game Modes: Choose from classic Beer Pong, Beer Ball, or the thrilling Sled Bob mode.
• Interactive Gameplay: IR sensors detect cup placement and ball interactions, updating scores in real time.
• Central Scoreboard: An LED matrix at the center displays scores, animations, and game state information.
• Responsive Gameplay: Dual-core ESP32 microcontrollers ensure smooth and responsive operation.
• Customizable: Open-source code allows you to tweak game rules, LED patterns, and more.

Hardware Overview

The table is powered by an array of ESP32 microcontrollers and sensors, meticulously arranged to create an immersive gaming experience.

Microcontrollers

• Controller ESP32-S3-WROOM-1: The brain of the operation, located beneath the central LED matrix. It controls the main game logic and the LED matrix display.
• Peripheral ESP-WROOM-32 Units (x2): Located under each cup set (left and right), these handle cup detection and LED control for their respective sides.

Sensors and Components

• TCRT5000 IR Sensors: Placed under each cup position to detect the presence of cups and interactions with the ball.
• WS2812B Addressable LEDs: Used for the cup LEDs and the central LED matrix, providing vibrant and customizable lighting.
• Acrylic Top Panel: Ensures smooth gameplay and optimal sensor performance by reducing IR noise.

Software Architecture

The software is organized into a set of classes, each handling specific aspects of the game's functionality. Here's a rundown of the main components:

Controller Software

• Table Class: Orchestrates the game states, processes sensor data, and delegates tasks to the cup sets and LED matrix.
• CupSet Class: Manages a set of cups on one side of the table, including their states and interactions.
• Cup Class: Represents an individual cup, handling presence detection and special states like "Island" or "Last Cup".
• GameMode Class: Provides a framework for different game modes, using a virtual function pattern to allow easy addition of new modes.
• LedMatrix Class: Manages the central LED matrix, displaying scores, animations, and game states.

Peripheral Software

• Core 1: Dedicated to reading and filtering IR sensor data, transmitting it to the controller for processing.
• Core 2: Handles incoming LED commands from the controller and updates the cup LEDs accordingly.

Setup and Installation

Prerequisites

• Arduino IDE: Ensure you have the latest version installed.
• ESP32 Board Support: Install via the Arduino Boards Manager.
• Required Libraries:
  • FastLED
  • FastLED_NeoMatrix
  • Adafruit_GFX
  • HardwareSerial

Steps

1. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/ultimate-beer-pong-table.git

2. Hardware Assembly: Follow the hardware schematics in the docs folder to assemble the table.

3. Configure the Software:

   • Open the Arduino IDE and load the projects for each microcontroller (ControllerESP, LCupSet, RCupSet).
   • Adjust the Config.h files if necessary to match your hardware setup.

4. Upload the Code:

   • Select the appropriate board and port in the Arduino IDE.
   • Upload the code to each ESP32 module.

5. Test the Setup: Power on the table and verify that the sensors and LEDs are functioning correctly.

Game Modes

Beer Pong

Enjoy the classic game with enhanced features:

• Island Detection: Automatically detects and highlights island cups.
• Last Cup Animation: Special animations play when a team is down to their last cup.
• Score Tracking: The central LED matrix displays the current score and cup counts.

Beer Ball

A fast-paced variation with unique rules:

• Reactive Side Cups: Side cups light up based on player actions.
• Speed-Based Animations: LED patterns react to the pace of the game.

Sled Bob

A custom game mode for added fun:

• Dynamic Team Challenges: Special conditions that teams must meet, displayed on the LED matrix.
• Winning Celebrations: Unique animations play for the winning team.

How It Works

• Cup Detection: The TCRT5000 IR sensors detect the presence of cups by measuring reflected IR light through the acrylic top.
• Data Processing: Sensor data is transmitted from the peripheral ESP32s to the controller ESP32 via HardwareSerial communication.
• Game Logic: The controller processes the data, updates game states, and sends LED commands back to the peripherals.
• Visual Feedback: LEDs under each cup and the central LED matrix provide real-time visual feedback, enhancing gameplay.

Gallery

Check out the table in action:

Watch the Video

Table Blueprints

Download Table Blueprints

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

---

Cheers to endless fun and unforgettable beer pong nights!

---

Feel free to dive into the code and customize the experience. Contributions are welcome!