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Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

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Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#161

Post by trbleclef »

SoftTalker wrote: post #155
section33 wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I bowled some in the 90s. Back then these were still common:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1tMSdAswo4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGhSoGizjxo

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#162

Post by nunez »

This is all extremely interesting.

Lanes have been switching to Brunswick all-in-one string pinsetter/scoring systems due to, in large part, operational cost and lack of options. (Many bowling alleys still rock A-2s or GSX pinsetters whose part costs are sky-high due to not being in production anymore). The ones that are trying to not become Bowleros or Punchbowl Social type establishments might be interested in this!

Have you posted this to /r/bowling yet?

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#164

Post by nunez »

leetrout wrote: post #150
msisk6 wrote: post #131

I grew up behind the bowling machines. My dad was a bowling machine mechanic and worked on machines all around the midwest. He often moon-lite as the on-duty mechanic during league nights and I'd go with him. Mostly he worked at the local 16-lane alley with ancient AMF machines. The logic was all relays in a "chassis" on each machine. Relays would fail, pins and balls would end up where they're not supposed to be, fo…

It's hard to tell if it's making a comeback but it's getting attention. Ben stiller produced a documentary for HBO "Born to Bowl" and it was very engaging. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_to_Bowl

Bowling by itself isn't coming back, but bowling with other entertainment activities has been trending for a few years now. These lanes are usually low(er)-maintenance string lanes.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#166

Post by walrus01 »

> My family and I bought an abandoned 8-lane bowling center in the rural mid-west. In our small town there weren't many recreation options for families. You've heard of a food desert? This is an R&R desert.

On a topic not exactly related to the implementation of the ESP32 and hardware, what other R&R activities can one add to a bowling alley to make such a facility more popular and attractive for the locals? It would be very interesting to see some photos of your facility and what you've done with it since you bought it.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#167

Post by zrail »

walrus01 wrote: post #166

> My family and I bought an abandoned 8-lane bowling center in the rural mid-west. In our small town there weren't many recreation options for families. You've heard of a food desert? This is an R&R desert. On a topic not exactly related to the implementation of the ESP32 and hardware, what other R&R activities can one add to a bowling alley to make such a facility more popular and attractive for the locals? It would…

Having grown up in a small midwest town in an R&R desert, I think the canonical answer is a liquor license.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#168

Post by tanseydavid »

taneq wrote: post #94
cgyvbunji wrote: post #83

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.

This is an AI app from the 1950s! Developed by Rube Goldberg who fully intended to vibe code the scoring part later.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#169

Post by pauli5 »

With a materials to retail cost multiplier of x10 (which is on the low side), your system wouldn't be cheaper than the commercial one unless you can build and install it yourself. I doubt most centres would have the skills available to do this.

Nonetheless, you've done a fantastic job here.

Re: Show HN: I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s

#170

Post by walrus01 »

zrail wrote: post #167
walrus01 wrote: post #166

> My family and I bought an abandoned 8-lane bowling center in the rural mid-west. In our small town there weren't many recreation options for families. You've heard of a food desert? This is an R&R desert. On a topic not exactly related to the implementation of the ESP32 and hardware, what other R&R activities can one add to a bowling alley to make such a facility more popular and attractive for the locals? It would…

Having grown up in a small midwest town in an R&R desert, I think the canonical answer is a liquor license.

I've always wondered about these when I see bars in tiny towns in rural parts of WA, OR, ID because the only way to get home is to drive drunk (I seriously doubt that the locals are organizing designated drivers for carloads of intoxicated people, and no taxi services exist). It seems they just take a gamble on not crashing and not getting caught by the local law enforcement.
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