Embedded Hardware · Gaming
Smart Soccer Table
Transformed a standard foosball table into a self-running game system with IR goal detection, live scoring, timed matches, synchronized audio, and event-driven lighting.
Overview
The Smart Soccer Table detects goals automatically, manages the match clock and score, plays music and sound effects, and drives addressable LEDs for prep, goal, and winner moments.
Highlights
- Automatic IR goal detection
- Live score and 0-120s countdown
- On-device MP3 music and sound effects
- WS2815 event-driven lighting
Challenges
- Detect true goals while rejecting ball bounce and players’ hands.
- Prevent one goal from being counted twice.
- Keep countdown display aligned with music and sound effects.
- Fit electronics cleanly into an existing impact-prone table frame.
Solutions
- Created an event-driven game-engine task fed by sensors, buttons, and timers.
- Used GPIO interrupts, debounce logic, GPTimer ticks, and ISR-safe event queues.
- Added a two-second goal lockout to prevent double-counting.
- Built a custom 2-layer ESP32 board integrating displays, codec, sensors, and LEDs.
Features
- 10s prep countdown
- 120s play mode
- Final whistle and winner LED pulse
- 7-segment score and timer modules
- Background music plus goal/end-game sounds
Key Results
- Working MVP delivered in about three weeks.
- PCB design completed in three days and board fabrication in one week.
- Firmware was built in parallel to compress timeline without cutting quality.
The Smart Soccer Table detects goals automatically, manages the match clock and score, plays music and sound effects, and drives addressable LEDs for prep, goal, and winner moments.
Created an event-driven game-engine task fed by sensors, buttons, and timers.
Used GPIO interrupts, debounce logic, GPTimer ticks, and ISR-safe event queues.
Working MVP delivered in about three weeks.