Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85 | Poker Buddy: Chipless Poker Companion |
Austin Abraham Lorenzo Dumitrescu Vishal Ramvelu |
Eric Tang | proposal1.pdf |
|
| # Poker Buddy: Chipless Poker Companion # Team Members: - Austin Abraham (austina5) - Lorenzo Dumitrescu (ldumit4) - Vishal Ramvelu (ramvelu2) # Problem Traditional poker games rely heavily on physical chips for betting, which can be cumbersome, error-prone, and prone to mismanagement or theft. Managing chip counts, handling physical money, and tracking bet amounts often slow down the game and can lead to disputes among players. In addition, determining whose turn it is during fast-paced games can be confusing and cause a lot of frustration between players. With the growing demand for digital integration in gaming, there is an opportunity to streamline the poker experience by eliminating physical chips and automating bet tracking and game flow. This is different from online poker because we want to maintain the in person experience of playing against your friends face to face, but without the inefficiencies of standard chips and markers that represent blinds. # Solution We propose a modular device that removes the need for physical chips while enhancing the poker-playing experience. Each player will use a dedicated device that features LED displays to show both their current balance and the money in the pot, along with a built-in turn indicator light that activates when it is their turn. We will use a force sensitive touch sensor to interpret different gestures—one tap for fold, two taps for check, and a long hold for call—eliminating the need for manual chip handling to signal actions. Additionally, five colored buttons correspond to different chip denominations for quick and easy betting. While we could use some type of sensor for these buttons, we want to maintain the tactile feel and choose to use buttons for our design. These devices will wirelessly connect to a centralized mobile/web application that manages buy-ins, tracks all player balances, and synchronizes game status in real time, ensuring an efficient and error-free gaming experience. Although these devices will not track cards, they must handle the real-time logic of betting, maintaining balances, and managing turn order without relying on a computer. The game logic is distributed and managed by the PCBs in each Poker Buddy. This means that each Poker Buddy keeps track of: - Whose turn it is to bet (reflected by the turn signal LED). - The current bet amounts and how they contribute to the pot(reflected by LCD display). - The players’ individual balances(reflected by another LCD display). - The outcome of each hand (i.e., when a player wins, the entire pot is automatically credited to their balance). These devices communicate wirelessly with each other and can optionally sync with a centralized mobile application for overall game monitoring and account management by the host of the game (this will just be used for buying in chips and determining payouts at the end). The system is designed to be portable and is powered by disposable batteries, ensuring flexibility and ease-of-use in various settings. # Solution Components ## Sensor Subsystem The Sensor Subsystem captures all user inputs without the need for physical chips: - Force Sensitive Touch Sensor: An FSR (Force Sensitive Resistor) module will detect user gestures and differentiate between a single tap (fold), double tap (check), and long press (call) based on the force and duration of touch. - Button Array: A set of 5 tactile push buttons, each in a distinct color, will represent specific chip denominations for placing bets. ## Microcontroller and Processing Subsystem This subsystem processes inputs, drives outputs, and manages wireless communication: - ESP32-WROOM-32 Module: Serving as the core microcontroller, the ESP32 provides built-in WiFi/BLE connectivity for real-time data exchange with the mobile/web application as well as handling the logic for the game. - LED Displays: Two displays (7-segment LED displays such as the LTL-307EE) will show the player's balance and the current pot amount. - Turn Indicator LED: A dedicated LED will signal when it is the player's turn, ensuring immediate visual recognition. - Voltage Regulator: A voltage regulator such as the LM2596 DC-DC Buck Converter will ensure a stable power supply to the ESP32 and peripheral components. - Power Supply – Disposable Batteries: The device is designed for portability and can be powered by disposable batteries (AA battery packs) or via a direct power connection. ## User Subsystem The User Subsystem integrates physical device interaction with a digital game management system: - Physical Interface: The combination of the LED displays, turn indicator, force sensitive touch sensor, and colored buttons creates an intuitive interface that replaces traditional chip handling. - Mobile/Web Application: A dedicated application will allow users to buy in, view real-time balances, monitor the pot, and receive instant updates on game status, seamlessly synchronizing data across all devices. - Secure Communication: Robust wireless protocols will ensure that all transactions and game data are transmitted securely and accurately between the Poker Buddy devices and the central application. # Criterion For Success - Real-Time Status Updates: The system must update player balances, pot amounts, and turn indicators on the app within five seconds in at least 90% of cases. - Accurate Gesture Recognition: The force sensitive touch sensor should reliably distinguish between a single tap (fold), double tap (check), and long press (call) with a false detection rate below 2%. - Reliable Wireless Communication: The ESP32 module must maintain stable and consistent connectivity with the mobile/web application, achieving at least a 90% connection success rate during active gameplay. - User-Friendly Interface: The physical device should offer clear visual feedback through its LED displays and turn indicator, ensuring that users can operate it intuitively without the need for physical chips. - Game is Mathematically Correct: Since poker involves complex betting logic, the system must correctly update sums, properly rotate blinds around the table, and accurately calculate winnings. The distributed game logic must ensure that all arithmetic and game state transitions are mathematically correct and robust against errors. |
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