🏎️ 1D-LED Strip Racing

A Fast-Paced DIY Arduino Racing Game

by Aniket Chowdhury (aka #Hashtag)

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🎬 Project Overview

1D RGB LED Strip Racing is a fun, competitive button-mashing racing game built using microcontrollers and addressable LEDs.

Each player controls a “car” represented by a glowing LED. The faster you press your button, the faster your car moves.

🏁 First to complete all laps wins!

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✨ Highlights

• 🏎️ Real-time LED racing simulation

• ⚡ Physics-based movement (acceleration + friction)

• 🎮 Supports 2 to 4 players

• 🔢 Live lap counter using 7-segment display

• 🎵 Sound effects (countdown, lap, win, defeat)

• 🌈 Smooth animations (idle, countdown, win)

• 🔁 Multiple hardware versions:

  • Arduino Uno (basic)
  • Arduino Mega (4 players)
  • ESP32 (wireless control)

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⚙️ How It Works

Button Press
     ↓
Speed Increase (ACCEL)
     ↓
Friction Applied Over Time
     ↓
Distance Calculation
     ↓
LED Position Update
     ↓
Lap Detection → Display Update → Sound Feedback

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🧠 Core Concept

This is not just blinking LEDs — it's a mini physics engine.

Each player has:

• Speed
• Distance
• Lap count

The system simulates motion using simple physics:

• Acceleration when pressing
• Gradual slowdown when not

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🔧 Hardware

Basic Setup (Arduino Uno)

• Arduino Uno / compatible board
• WS2812B LED Strip
• TM1637 4-digit display
• Push buttons (×2–4)
• Passive buzzer
• External 5V power supply

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🔌 Wiring Overview

Component	Arduino Pin
LED Strip Data	D6
Buzzer	D8
Player 1 Button	D2
Player 2 Button	D3
TM1637 CLK	D10
TM1637 DIO	D11

⚠️ LED strip must use external 5V power

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🎮 Game Flow

1. 🌈 Idle (rainbow animation)
2. ⏳ Countdown (3 → 2 → 1 → GO)
3. 🏎️ Racing (button mashing)
4. 🏆 Winner animation
5. 🔁 Back to idle

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🧪 Variations

🧩 Arduino Mega (4 Players)

• More buttons
• More LEDs
• Multiplayer chaos 😄

📡 ESP32 Wireless Version

• Bluetooth / WiFi input
• Phone-based controls

⚡ Turbo Mode

• Higher acceleration
• More friction
• Faster gameplay

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🎨 Visual System

Effect	Meaning
🌈 Rainbow	Idle
🔴🟠🟢 Sweep	Countdown
⚪ Flash	GO
🔴 / 🔵 Dots	Players
🟢 Flash	Winner

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🛠 Code Concepts

This project teaches:

• Variables & constants (#define)
• State machines (enum)
• Data structures (struct)
• Physics simulation
• Real-time loops

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🚀 Future Improvements

• 📱 Mobile app control
• 🌐 Web dashboard (ESP32)
• 🤖 AI opponent
• 🧠 Smarter physics
• 🏆 Leaderboards

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📸 Simulation

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📸 Wiring & Schematic

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👤 Author & Contact

👨 Name: Aniket Chowdhury (aka Hashtag)
📧 Email: micro.aniket@gmail.com
💼 LinkedIn: itzz-hashtag
🐙 GitHub: itzzhashtag
📸 Instagram: @itzz_hashtag

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⭐ Support

If you like this project:

• ⭐ Star the repo
• 🍴 Fork it
• 🔧 Build your own version

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🔥 Final Thought

This is not just a game — it’s a hands-on introduction to physics, electronics, and fun.