A custom handheld quiz console built around the ESP32-S3, featuring a touchscreen interface, physical controls, immersive audio, and a custom-designed PCB.
Status: 🚧 In Development (Funding / Design Revision)
This project is a custom embedded systems quiz platform designed to recreate the experience of a televised quiz competition using dedicated hardware instead of a computer.
The project combines an ESP32-S3 with multiple modules and controls to create a standalone interactive system that serves as a learning platform for embedded systems, PCB design, firmware development, CAD, and hardware-software integration.
- ✅ System architecture finalized
- ✅ Component selection complete
- 🚧 Schematic in progress
- 🚧 Firmware architecture planning
- ⏳ PCB routing
- ⏳ Prototype fabrication
Watching game shows, i always wanted to be a part of one. Building this project gives me an opportunity to be able to live the experience of the game show from the comfort of my home, not to mention multiple times.
Additionally, it gives me a chance to explore the world of robotics and systems integration across various platforms such as Kicad, Autodesk and VS Code..
- Interactive touchscreen interface
- Physical buttons for a game show-inspired experience
- Audio playback for every question
- Swappable microSD card for question packs
- Custom-designed PCB
- Modular hardware architecture
- Expandable question database
(Insert architecture diagram here)
[Buttons]
│
▼
[IO Expander]
│ I²C
▼
[ESP32-S3]
├── TFT Display
├── DFPlayer
├── Firebase
└── Speaker
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| ESP32-S3 DevKit | Serves as the main brain of the system |
| 3.5" TFT Display | Displays questions and other settings |
| MCP23017 | Provides additional GPIO for buttons and future peripherals while the display occupies a significant portion of the ESP32-S3's available pins. |
| MAX98357A | I²S digital audio amplifier used to drive the speaker from the ESP32-S3 |
| Speaker | Plays the audio track |
| Push Buttons | Used to play the game and select options |
- Compact handheld layout
- Easy debugging
- Modular components
- Clean signal routing
- Future IC integration
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- Integrating multiple subsystems into one working project.
- Limited GPIO availability due to the parallel TFT interface.
- Balancing PCB size with component accessibility.
- Designing for future IC integration while using development modules during prototyping.
- Managing audio playback alongside the graphical interface.
| Component | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Game_Machine/
│
├── Firmware/
├── PCB/
├── BOM/
├── Images/
├── Docs/
└── README.md
- [✅] Initial concept
- [✅] System architecture
- [✅] Component selection
- Schematic design
- PCB layout
- Design review
- PCB fabrication
- Assembly
- Firmware integration
- Testing
- Final enclosure
After initial design, testing, and success of code and functionality, I expect to replace modules and breakout boards to individual ICs and bare chipsets, reduce the PCB footprint, lower manufacturing cost, and create a more production-oriented design.
Once the PCB layout is finalized, using its schematics and dimensions, a detailed custom 3D printed enclosure will be designed for the console
- Multiplayer Mode
- Time-bound questions
- Individual Player Data saving and tracking
- Companion dashboard for viewing player data and leaderboards
- Datasheets
- Documentation
- Libraries
- Resources
Images documenting the project's progress, including schematic design, PCB routing, enclosure development, and hardware assembly, will be added here throughout development.
MIT License