Earlier quoted context omitted.
Can you explain the significance of the single relay? My car starts with a single solenoid.
Yeah this $100k system with all its expensive add ons is there to push a single button.
Well, and to display your score.
Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
151–160 of 375 posts
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#152Thank you for posting this, it reaffirms what I've been thinking for so long. There are many opportunities to retrofit old systems of all types with modern low-cost embedded technologies. Around 2019 or so I was approached by an engineer who had a small business retrofitting very old machine tools with modern motion controls. Think very large lathes and planers. The problem they had was that in order to get these sys…
> retrofitting very old machine tools with modern motion controls. I have a friend who has automated an old food production line. Eg peanut butter making, Muslie roasting etc. With no background in programming he got machines hooked up measuring various things - eg peanut butter levels with ultrasound, roast temps, rotation rates. Zero version control and eyebrow raising methods but massive improvement in safety and…
I suspect this is where our AI agents will really come to shine: helping people who might have a technical bend but are not programmers do cool things.
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#153Earlier quoted context omitted.
Tap to pay probably doesn't help with getting people into the alley but probably helps with 'one more game'. Your beginners have to come for shoes anyway, and the pointer to which lanes to take (you don't want them taking a lane at 6:30 that's reserved at 7)
At least you could display a message that says "this lane is reserved. Open lanes: 6, 7"
Available lanes are lit green and reserved are red ?
(Or something more complex)
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#154Right now I'm working on adding LED + DMX DJ light control - I kinda want to be able to order LED strips to "chase" a ball as it goes down the lane or back up the return. I plan on triggering laser-light shows and such with the DMX controller. Eventually, I want to allow a customer walk up to the lane, tap to pay and start bowling immediately, too. Kiosk-ize bowling alleys, yknow? I'm pumped. So much room for activit…
1. Can we stack two lanes on top of each other, please? Make homemade bunklanes?
2. Something about preventing people from rubbing the bowling balls on your precious lanes.
3. Laser light shows + Liquor license = Bowling Alley Wine Mixer
Sorry, I got overly excited by your reference. I say that so GD much, at least once a month, for nearly 20 years now haha. SOOO much room for activities!
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#155Serious and maybe stupid question, also note I don't live in the US. Is this really needed? If you put a scoring pad and a couple pencils in each lane would your customers say "what is this shit", turn around and walk out?
Oh yeah. We even have one lane pair the auto-scoring isn't working, we just can't assign most people to either lane. The machines themselves work fine, and we do have a way to bypass the failed unit - but for the generations that have never seen paper scoring, you'd think had asked them to file their taxes for fun.
Growing up, never saw automatic scoring. Keeping score on paper was just part of going bowling. They had an overhead projector at each lane so everyone could see the score sheet.
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#156Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yeah good god OP please start writing a Substack about this! Engineer who buys a run-down bowling alley and cleverly fixes problems is exactly what the internet needs more of.
No, not a Substack, just a regular blog please.
Seconded. I don't need, want, or read emails. I want a website I can go to and show to others
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#157this post is such a breathe of fresh air (real "hacker" stuff). thank you for posting
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#158I'm in the midwaste. Love to know where you bowling alley is!
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#159Thank you for sharing. This type of stuff gets me pumped up. It just shows that tech improvements usually 10x - or in this case 1000x - some old metric. In this case its cost. I think the same sort of rule of thumb applies to things like speed, features, user experience, etc... Getting this type of cost advantage eventually translates to a better UX, as you've alluded to. Way to go.
Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s
#160I know this is rationally a good thing to do, but I can't help but be sad imagining this bowling equipment company being run out of business because someone wanted to do their jobs but for free. It's kind of absurd from their pov. Like imagine you own a cafe you've worked hard to grow into a successful business, and then next door some guy opens a cafe with infinite free coffee just because he is a generous guy.