Domination Timer - RFID / Button

[martinius96]

Dear all, I would like to offer the following.
During last few year I was developing a Domination Timer device, that is suitable for Paintball events, especially for Domination or Capture the Point game mode.

It is a stopwatch that is counting the total occupancy time per each time. Time is counting per team that already occupied the point, until it is occupied by other team, or until the point will be neutralized. Winner of the game mode is a team that was holding this point for the most time. Team that is actually occupying the point are represented by LED diode on the device aswell. There are 4 LEDs in total, so 4 teams can be used in a single game, but standardly 2 teams are used - RED and BLU. When a team occupy the Domination Timer, there will be beep engaged from the device that informs anybody nearby, there is a significant change on the point. Time is visualised during whole game in real-time on LCD 20x4 character screen.


Domination Timer itself is a point that can be occupied by a team member, who is trying to hold it as long as possible after successful occupancy.
Based on version, the point can be occupied using:

• RFID version - player is able to attach a RFID wristband / card to capture the point
• Button version - player is able to hold button for a set period of time to capture the point. If he is not holding the button for set amount of time, he needs to do it again. If there is a other team already on point and during occupying, there is button held for more than 50% of time, point will be neutralized, even the occupancy process is not fully finished. Player can see current progress during holding button on LCD screen

In terms of hardware, for both version there is used identical hardware. In button version, RFID reader is removed and swapped with buttons. Buttons can have separate LED backlight, which is helpful during night events, when buttons are fully visible. By different wirings you can also add other functionalities to the buttons, such as turn on backlight on press, or by software, turn on backlight for a losing team's button...

Domination Timer is based on DIY open-source hardware (Arduino, modules). Also the main components can be used in modular design on the PCB, if pin headers are used. Meaning, these components you can swap without needing to solder anything in seconds. To buy all hardware components, the price is like 10 USD, up to 35 USD depending on where you will get your hardware. Fine is to get all the components from China, Aliexpress. Had no issue with these, also not a lot components are used, easy for soldering and installation to anyone. To mount hardware properly into PCB and 3D printed box, you will need to use a few extra components - M3 screws, nuts, Standoff Spacer Screws such as 10 mm base + 6 mm, 6 mm base + 6 mm.



What can I sell - through Upwork with invoice:

• Firmware - tailor-made firmware (.hex) for your hardware and your RFID cards (for their unique identifiers). Price depends on how many RFID cards you would like to use
• PCB design files - to be able to manufacture PCB at JLCPCB or other...
• STEP file for device's box - to be able to print it on 3D printer - FDM / SLA confirmed
• Full license - Full project rights, including source codes (nobody else has source code, as all sold firmware was in machine code - .executable file hex, so nobody saw source code yet excluding me - creator), possible to white-label. - That will make you the only owner of the project, so from my side no other firmware or devices will be sold.

Fully assembled hardware is not available outside Slovakia, Europe (too expensive to deliver).

About prices, for firmware it is from 40 USD per 24 RFID tags included within 2 team firmware (10 RFID cards per each team, 2 for referee - can pause the time, 2 for eraser - can pause and reset the time). Then the price is set based on deal if you need to extend it. For Button version, price is 30 USD for standard 2 team firmware. Also I can sell you only PCB file, if you would like to develop your own Domination Timer or other device. 10 USD per PCB manufacturing file, 10 USD per .step file for box 3D printing. Note: You will need to cut holes for buttons yourself, as there can be used any diameter from 16 mm up to 24 mm.


There are a lot customization you can do even with components. You can use LED diodes in colors you would like. Also, LCD character screen can be bought with yellow, blue backlight, but also with green or gray one (monochrome). Also, you can print device's box with any color, or also to stick your team name / ad on your Paintball playground on it. A lot of options to make it comfy. I can also program new functionalities if you would need any. Even later, if you firstly get standard firmware and then you would like to extend it.


PCB dimensions:

• 104x103x1,6 mm - FR4 material

Device's box dimensions:

• 124x123x48 mm - ABS / PLA plastic
• Weight including hardware assembled in it: 300g

Note: PCB and box has hole in them, which is used for a screwdriver access to a LCD display's contrast trimmer.
With that trimmer you can adjust contrast related to ambient temperature.

Full hardware list - RFID version:

• Arduino Nano
• RFID RC522 (13.56 MHz)
• 4x LED 5mm
• 4x THT resistors 220 up to 1K
• 5V buzzer with 7,62 mm pitch
• LCD 20x4 with I2C converter
• RFID cards, wristbands, keychains with standard ISO/IEC 14443-A

Full hardware list - Button version:

• Arduino Nano
• 2x push buttons (depends on you what type of wiring you would like to use with / without backlight etc)
• 4x LED 5mm
• 4x THT resistors 220 up to 1K
• 5V buzzer with 7,62 mm pitch
• LCD 20x4 with I2C converter

Device can be mounted on the tree, pipe, joist using trail-camera like belt with locking mechanism. Also, if you will have hardware on hand, it is possible to give you a DEMO version to test before considering buying anything.

RFID based device:

Button based device:

[DieManInTheRough]

I have been following your project for a bit, there is only one close to it available on Etsy, and seller has mixed reviews and price is steep for questionable product.

I really like the form factor, and ease of use, the only other feature we would look for is the ability to "Mesh" Multiple units to keep score across multiple domination points.

[rawbutter]

This sounds really cool.

What happens if someone shoots it by accident?

[martinius96]

I have been following your project for a bit, there is only one close to it available on Etsy, and seller has mixed reviews and price is steep for questionable product.

I really like the form factor, and ease of use, the only other feature we would look for is the ability to "Mesh" Multiple units to keep score across multiple domination points.

At the moment these isn't possible to mesh it. I must say, it is not in a plan for now. PCB in actual state is not providing additional pins to wire there any Bluetooth / LoRa / WiFi technology, but Arduino itself has enough pins to do it, so basically it is possible to extend PCB design for that.

Advantage I like about Domination Timer is, you can clone firmware to any amount of devices.
So you can create any amount of devices with a single firmware, that can reduce costs for making bigger installations. These devices will work independly, but at the end of the game you will need to count total points manually.

[martinius96]

This sounds really cool.

What happens if someone shoots it by accident?

I would say, box itself will survive that, as it has 2 mm wide sides. Also from my point of view, box looks solid and survived couple of drops.
LCD screen would be the least resistant to mechanical damage, but not sure how durable it is. If it breaks, it costs basically less than 4 or 5 USD to replace it.

[lhamilton1807]

This is a really cool project! The perfect use case for a microcontroller like an arduino.

[Trbo323]

Hey glad you found your way over here.

Is there any way to run an output to say, a light? I was just thinking if this is on a field, the only way to know which timer is running is to go up to it. If there was a solid or rotating light for each team that would also illuminate when that teams timer is going then other players on the field would know if they needed to attack or defend.

Sent from my motorola edge 2024 using Tapatalk

[martinius96]

At the moment there isn't any option to remotely know what team is active on Domination Timer. Only option is to go near it and see time counting on LCD character display for exact team, or to see its 5 mm LED that is turned on that time. Basically you can DIY external light that will be controlled by original's LED pin (original LED can be removed) and this signal can trigger other light source, even turn on 110V or 230V light using relay (SSR or electromagnetic).

[Trbo323]

At the moment there isn't any option to remotely know what team is active on Domination Timer. Only option is to go near it and see time counting on LCD character display for exact team, or to see its 5 mm LED that is turned on that time. Basically you can DIY external light that will be controlled by original's LED pin (original LED can be removed) and this signal can trigger other light source, even turn on 110V or 230V light using relay (SSR or electromagnetic).

Yeah I've played at a field that has something similar. Not as in depth as yours but they had 3 large lights attached to the pillar the buttons were on so everyone could see which light was on and knew which team had the "flag"

Sent from my motorola edge 2024 using Tapatalk

[drewkroeker]

This is so cool! My crude caveman brain has dreamt of something like this ever since I played Star Wars: Battlefront on PS2.

Is there a way to wire multiple stations together using ethernet cable?

[Chuck E Ducky]

I think this would be successful if you could extend the range and keep multiple data points like x amount of Red with in day 10’ of flag vs x amount of Blue and adjust scores accordingly. How much range can you give those RFID?

You could do Conquest style games with them then instead of what is basically electronic flags. I guess it could save a ref standing there monitoring flag stations. But if it could do conquest style scoring I bet that would be a big hit. Those tags are super easy to program with a Flipper Zero to if they go missing.

[The Weltman]

Keep me posted Chuck.
Interested certainly.

[PBGunny]

I played a game in late June at Sherwood Forest (Pirate Game?) where it used exactly what you guys have been talking about. Each of the team badges were RFID and in order to turn a base, you had to hit a box and there was a light that would change to reflect what team owned it. Every 30 minutes, all the bases would go to null and you had to tag it again. It was very challenging but everything worked really good.
Edit: It was Big Bang Paintball that ran it.

[Chuck E Ducky]

But you have to basically be right on top of it to get it to change right. I feel like the benefits of going electronic would be to keep real time data off proximity. Otherwise it’s just a fancy flag pole. Saves a ref not having to be there to monitor it I guess. Could allow for multiple different locations without staff coordination. What’s the cost break down tho those tags getting returned at what rate of loss. Not everyone is going to know or have access to the tec to replicate them. I guess you could trade the tags back in for raffle tickets or something. Not trying to down play the product. Just trying to figure out how this is better for paintball applications than a Slap stick and a ref.

So it looks like you can buy the tags for $16 for 50. Flipper is about $200 so I guess they are pretty cheap to replicate. You could add the cost into entry and you would save ref labor.

I played one they used like some augmented reality thing at Sherwood but it requires your phone so I never even messed with it. Probably why the other team got trapped in their spawn all day but still won.

[martinius96]

Project is no more available.