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Ghassan Yusuf 6f8bbf4995 Update readme.md
2026-03-24 19:25:50 +03:00
readme.md
Update readme.md
2026-03-24 19:25:50 +03:00

readme.md

📖 TAKEONE REFLEX C3 - DIY Reaction Light System

Complete User Documentation

📋 Table of Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Hardware Requirements
  3. Wiring Diagram
  4. Software Setup
  5. Configuration
  6. BLE Commands Reference
  7. Using the Device
  8. Mobile App Testing
  9. Troubleshooting
  10. Advanced Features

🎯 Overview

BlazePod C3 is a DIY reaction light training system inspired by commercial products like BlazePod. It uses an ESP32-C3 microcontroller to create a wireless, Bluetooth-controlled LED pod that measures reaction time with millisecond accuracy.

Key Features

  • ✅ Wireless BLE 5.0 control
  • ✅ Millisecond-accurate reaction timing
  • ✅ Customizable RGB colors via mobile app
  • ✅ Multiple trigger options: Piezo (slap), Button (press), Accelerometer (shake)
  • ✅ Smooth breathing animations
  • ✅ Modular design - enable/disable sensors as needed
  • ✅ Low power consumption

🔧 Hardware Requirements

Required Components

Component Quantity Notes
ESP32-C3 Super Mini 1 Main controller
WS2812B NeoPixel Ring (12 LEDs) 1 5V, 12-LED ring
Piezo Disc 1 Optional - for slap detection
Momentary Push Button 1 Optional - for press detection
ADXL335 Accelerometer 1 Optional - for shake detection
1M Ω Resistor 1 For piezo sensor
3.7V LiPo Battery 1 500-1000mAh recommended
TP4056 Charging Module 1 Battery charging
Slide Switch 1 On/Off power switch

Tools Needed

  • Soldering iron & solder
  • USB-C cable (data-capable)
  • Wire cutters/strippers
  • Hot glue gun
  • 3D printer (optional, for case)

🔌 Wiring Diagram

ESP32-C3 Super Mini Pinout

Component ESP32-C3 Pin Notes
NeoPixel Data GPIO 3 DIN pin on ring
NeoPixel VCC 5V (VIN) Use 5V for brightness
NeoPixel GND GND Common ground
Piezo (+) GPIO 4 With 1M Ω resistor to GND
Piezo (-) GND
Button (Leg 1) GPIO 5
Button (Leg 2) GND No resistor needed (internal pullup)
Accel X GPIO 6 ADXL335 X-Out
Accel Y GPIO 7 ADXL335 Y-Out
Accel Z GPIO 0 ADXL335 Z-Out
Accel VCC 3.3V ⚠️ 3.3V ONLY!
Accel GND GND

Wiring Schematic

ESP32-C3 Super Mini
┌─────────────────┐
│   GPIO 3  ──────┼──> NeoPixel DIN
│   5V      ──────┼──> NeoPixel VCC
│   GND     ──────┼──> NeoPixel GND, Piezo (-), Button (Leg 2)
│   GPIO 4  ──────┼──> Piezo (+) [with 1MΩ to GND]
│   GPIO 5  ──────┼──> Button (Leg 1)
│   GPIO 6  ────────> ADXL335 X
│   GPIO 7  ──────┼──> ADXL335 Y
│   GPIO 0  ──────┼──> ADXL335 Z
│   3.3V    ──────┼──> ADXL335 VCC
└─────────────────┘

💻 Software Setup

Step 1: Install Arduino IDE

Download from: https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

Step 2: Add ESP32 Board Support

  1. Open Arduino IDE
  2. Go to File > Preferences
  3. Add this URL to "Additional Board Manager URLs": 
    https://espressif.github.io/arduino-esp32/package_esp32_index.json
  4. Go to Tools > Board > Boards Manager
  5. Search for "esp32"
  6. Install "esp32 by Espressif Systems" (version 2.0.9 or higher)

Step 3: Install Required Libraries

  1. Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries
  2. Search and install:
    • Adafruit NeoPixel by Adafruit

Step 4: Select Board Settings

  1. Tools > Board: Select "ESP32C3 Dev Module"
  2. Tools > USB CDC On Boot: "Enabled"
  3. Tools > Partition Scheme: "Default 4MB with spiffs"
  4. Tools > Port: Select your ESP32-C3 port

Step 5: Upload Code

  1. Copy the full code into Arduino IDE
  2. Click Verify (✓) to compile
  3. Hold BOOT button on ESP32-C3
  4. Press RESET (or plug in USB while holding BOOT)
  5. Click Upload (→)
  6. Release BOOT button when you see "Connecting..."
  7. Press RESET once after upload completes

⚙️ Configuration

Enable/Disable Sensors

At the top of the code, you'll find:

// --- Feature Toggles (Comment to disable) ---
#define FEATURE_PIEZO
#define FEATURE_BUTTON
#define FEATURE_ACCEL

To enable a feature: Leave the line as is (uncommented)
To disable a feature: Add // at the beginning

Example Configurations

Button Only (Quiet Mode)

//#define FEATURE_PIEZO
#define FEATURE_BUTTON
//#define FEATURE_ACCEL

Slap Only (Classic Mode)

#define FEATURE_PIEZO
//#define FEATURE_BUTTON
//#define FEATURE_ACCEL

Full Features (All Triggers)

#define FEATURE_PIEZO
#define FEATURE_BUTTON
#define FEATURE_ACCEL

Adjust Sensitivity

#ifdef FEATURE_PIEZO
  #define PIEZO_THRESHOLD   1500    // Higher = less sensitive
#endif

#ifdef FEATURE_BUTTON
  #define BUTTON_THRESHOLD  100     // Not used (digital read)
#endif

#ifdef FEATURE_ACCEL
  #define ACCEL_THRESHOLD   150     // Higher = less sensitive
#endif

Change Device Name

#define DEVICE_NAME         "BlazeC3_Pod_01"

Change to any name (max 15 characters).

Adjust LED Brightness

#define BRIGHTNESS          50      // 0-255 (0=off, 255=brightest)
#define BREATHE_MAX         40      // Max brightness for breathing effect

📱 BLE Commands Reference

Connection Details

Parameter Value
Device Name BlazeC3_Pod_01 (or your custom name)
Service UUID 4fafc201-1fb5-459e-8fcc-c5c9c331914b
Characteristic UUID beb5483e-36e1-4688-b7f5-ea07361b26a8

Game Control Commands

Command Description Response
START Start reaction test OK:STARTED
RESET Stop game, return to connected state OK:RESET

Color Configuration Commands

Format: COLOR_NAME:R,G,B where R,G,B are 0-255

Command Example Description
COLOR_WAIT:0,0,255 Blue breathing when waiting for connection
COLOR_CONN:0,255,255 Cyan when connected, ready
COLOR_ACTIVE:255,0,0 Red when game active (wait for trigger)
COLOR_SUCCESS:0,255,0 Green when triggered (success)

Responses: OK:COLOR_NAME:R,G,B

Utility Commands

Command Description Response Example
GET_COLORS Get all current colors COLORS|WAIT:0,0,255|CONN:0,255,255|ACTIVE:255,0,0|SUCCESS:0,255,0
RESET_COLORS Reset to default colors OK:COLORS_RESET

Automatic Notifications

Notification When Sent
RESULT:245ms When trigger detected (reaction time)
OK:STARTED When game starts
OK:RESET When game resets

🎮 Using the Device

Basic Workflow

  1. Power On

    • Turn on the slide switch
    • LEDs perform rainbow spin (2 seconds)
    • LEDs enter breathing blue mode (waiting for connection)

  2. Connect via Bluetooth

    • Open nRF Connect or your mobile app
    • Scan for BlazeC3_Pod_01
    • Tap CONNECT
    • LEDs turn solid cyan (connected)

  3. Customize Colors (Optional)

    • Send COLOR_ACTIVE:255,0,255 for purple active color
    • Send GET_COLORS to verify

  4. Start Reaction Test

    • Send START
    • LEDs turn red (or your custom active color)
    • Wait for the light...

  5. Trigger the Pod

    • Slap it (if piezo enabled)
    • Press the button (if button enabled)
    • Shake it (if accelerometer enabled)
    • LEDs turn green (success)

  6. View Result

    • Check notification: RESULT:245ms
    • Lower = faster reaction time!

  7. Repeat

    • Send START again for another round
    • Or send RESET to stop

State Indicators

LED Behavior State Meaning
🌈 Rainbow spin Boot Starting up
💙 Breathing blue Waiting No Bluetooth connection
💚 Solid cyan Connected Ready to train
🔴 Solid red Active Game started - wait for trigger
🟢 Solid green Success Triggered! Showing result

📲 Mobile App Testing

Using nRF Connect (Android/iOS)

Download:

Step-by-Step Testing

  1. Open nRF Connect
  2. Scan for devices
  3. Find BlazeC3_Pod_01
  4. Tap CONNECT
  5. Expand "Unknown Service" (4fafc201...)
  6. Enable Notifications:
    • Tap the up arrow (↗️) on the characteristic
    • Select "Indicate" or "Notify"
  7. Send Commands:
    • Tap the down arrow (↙️) or pencil icon (✏️)
    • Type command (e.g., START)
    • Select "UTF-8" or "TEXT" format
    • Tap SEND
  8. View Results:
    • Notifications appear below the characteristic
    • Look for RESULT:XXXms

Quick Test Sequence

1. GET_COLORS          → Verify current colors
2. COLOR_ACTIVE:255,0,255  → Set purple active color
3. START               → Begin test
4. [Press button]      → Trigger
5. [See RESULT:XXXms]  → Check time
6. RESET               → Stop

🐛 Troubleshooting

LED Issues

Problem: LEDs don't turn on
Solution:

  • Check 5V power connection
  • Verify BRIGHTNESS is not set to 0
  • Ensure NeoPixel DIN is on GPIO 3

Problem: LEDs flicker or show wrong colors
Solution:

  • Add 1000μF capacitor across NeoPixel VCC/GND
  • Add 330Ω resistor on data line (GPIO 3)
  • Check power supply (use 5V, not 3.3V)

Button Issues

Problem: Button triggers immediately after START
Solution:

  • Check wiring: Button leg 1 to GPIO 5, leg 2 to GND
  • Verify FEATURE_BUTTON is enabled
  • Open Serial Monitor, check button value when NOT pressed (should be HIGH/1)
  • If reading LOW/0 when not pressed, check for loose wires

Problem: Button doesn't trigger
Solution:

  • Test with multimeter: Should read 0V when pressed, 3.3V when released
  • Try increasing BUTTON_THRESHOLD (though digital read shouldn't need this)
  • Check if FEATURE_BUTTON is commented out

Piezo Issues

Problem: Piezo too sensitive (triggers on its own)
Solution:

  • Increase PIEZO_THRESHOLD (try 2000-3000)
  • Ensure 1M Ω resistor is connected between GPIO 4 and GND
  • Check for loose wires picking up noise

Problem: Piezo not sensitive enough
Solution:

  • Decrease PIEZO_THRESHOLD (try 800-1200)
  • Open Serial Monitor, slap piezo, note the value
  • Set threshold between idle value and slap value

Accelerometer Issues

Problem: Triggers without movement
Solution:

  • Increase ACCEL_THRESHOLD (try 200-300)
  • Ensure ADXL335 is powered by 3.3V (not 5V!)
  • Check wiring is secure

Problem: Doesn't trigger on shake
Solution:

  • Decrease ACCEL_THRESHOLD (try 80-120)
  • Verify ADXL335 is working (check X/Y/Z values in Serial Monitor)
  • Shake harder!

Bluetooth Issues

Problem: Can't find device
Solution:

  • Ensure device is powered (LEDs breathing blue)
  • Move closer to phone (within 5 meters)
  • Restart ESP32-C3 (press RESET)
  • Check if already connected to another device

Problem: Can't send commands
Solution:

  • Enable Notifications on the characteristic
  • Use UTF-8 or TEXT format (not HEX)
  • Don't include quotes: START not "START"
  • Check if device is connected (LEDs solid cyan)

Problem: Commands not working
Solution:

  • Check Serial Monitor for "Received: [COMMAND]"
  • Verify command spelling (case-sensitive: START not start)
  • Enable notifications to see responses

Serial Monitor Debugging

Open Serial Monitor:

  • Baud rate: 115200
  • Line ending: Newline or Both NL & CR

What to look for:

================================
  BlazePod C3 - Production Ready
================================
Piezo:   OFF
Button:  ON
Accel:   OFF
================================
System Ready - Waiting for connection...
Device Connected
Received: [START]
Game Started
Trigger: Button
Reaction Time: 245ms

🚀 Advanced Features

Building a Mobile App

For a production app, you can use:

  • Flutter (cross-platform)
  • React Native (cross-platform)
  • Swift (iOS only)
  • Kotlin (Android only)

Key BLE Libraries:

  • Flutter: flutter_blue_plus
  • React Native: react-native-ble-plx

Multiple Pods Setup

To build 6 pods for group training:

  1. Change device names:

    #define DEVICE_NAME "BlazeC3_Pod_01"  // Pod 1
#define DEVICE_NAME "BlazeC3_Pod_02"  // Pod 2
// etc.

  2. Connect to all pods in your app

  3. Send START to all simultaneously

  4. Collect results from each pod

Power Optimization

Extend battery life:

  • Reduce BRIGHTNESS to 30-40
  • Reduce BREATHE_MAX to 20
  • Add deep sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity
  • Use smaller battery (300mAh) for lighter weight

3D Printed Case

Design considerations:

  • Diameter: 100-120mm (to fit 12-LED ring)
  • Height: 20-30mm (for ESP32-C3 + battery)
  • Diffuser: 1-2mm thick milky white PLA over LEDs
  • Mounting: Magnets or velcro on bottom
  • Button access: Hole or membrane over button
  • Charging port: USB-C access hole

Recommended settings:

  • Infill: 20%
  • Layer height: 0.2mm
  • Material: PLA or PETG

📊 Performance Specifications

Metric Value
Reaction Time Accuracy ±1ms
BLE Range 10-40 meters (open space)
Battery Life 4-8 hours (typical use)
Charging Time 2-3 hours
LED Refresh Rate 100 Hz
Touch Response Time <5ms
BLE Latency 10-20ms (not included in reaction time)

📞 Support & Resources

Code Repository

  • GitHub: [Your Repo Link]

Community

Tutorials

📄 License

This project is open-source. Feel free to modify, distribute, and use for personal or commercial projects.

✅ Quick Start Checklist

  • Solder all components
  • Install Arduino IDE & ESP32 board support
  • Install Adafruit NeoPixel library
  • Configure features (comment/uncomment defines)
  • Upload code to ESP32-C3
  • Open Serial Monitor, verify boot message
  • Download nRF Connect app
  • Connect to BlazeC3_Pod_01
  • Enable notifications
  • Send START
  • Trigger the pod
  • See RESULT:XXXms
  • You're ready to train! 🎉

Happy Training! 💪🔥

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