Ping
Month 1 ships Oct 19. A new kit every month. Cancel anytime.
Project Overview
Ping is Month 6 and the capstone of Spark & Circuit: a two-unit wireless family intercom you build and set up at home. Press a button on one unit and your message scrolls across the other unit's LED matrix, while its light ring pulses and it chimes until someone taps to say they've got it. Each unit shows both rooms' temperatures, switches between household modes like Quiet and Sleep on a schedule, and the pair doubles as a head-to-head wireless reaction game. Both units run on rechargeable batteries, so they can go wherever the family is. Ping uses every skill from Months 1 to 5, plus one big new one: designing a wireless protocol with ESP-NOW. No soldering needed.
Real-World Applications
Smart-home devices
Video doorbells, smart plugs and thermostats pair with each other and pass short messages over wireless, just like your two Ping units.
Messages that never get lost
Chat apps, package tracking and card payments all use acknowledgements and retries so nothing goes missing. Ping's tap-to-ack is the same idea.
Sensor networks
Weather stations, greenhouses and factories share sensor readings between devices. Ping does the same with the temperature in each room.
Online multiplayer games
Online games have to agree on timing across devices so every player gets a fair start, the same problem Ping's duel mode solves with a scheduled start time.
Skills Developed
Project Prerequisites
Before starting this project, we recommend completing these foundational projects:
Months 1–5 of Spark & Circuit: Ping reuses every skill from Cyclone LED through Nimbus
Recommended
A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer with a USB port for uploading code
Recommended
Learning Objectives
By completing this project, you will achieve the following measurable outcomes:
Pair two ESP32-C3 units and send messages between them with ESP-NOW
Design a message protocol with acknowledgements, retries and urgent priority
Scroll messages, menus and temperatures on a 32x8 LED matrix
Share live room temperatures between the two units
Run a four-state household mode machine with scheduled quiet hours
Build a head-to-head wireless reaction game that stays fair on both devices
Protect an admin menu with a PIN and save custom labels to flash
Assemble, install and personalize two working units at home
What's in the Kit
Everything you need to build your Ping, carefully selected and packaged
Kit Contents Information Coming Soon
Kit component details will be available once the project kit is finalized.
Course Content
Course Content Coming Soon
This project is being prepared. Course lessons and content will be available once the project is fully published.
Safety Guidelines
Please review these safety guidelines before starting your project
Designed for ages 13+. We recommend an adult is present for the first power-up, when charging the battery, and when using tools.
Disconnect power before handling
Always disconnect power sources and unplug devices before assembling, modifying, or troubleshooting electronic components.
Keep away from water and liquids
Do not use electronic components or tools near water. Keep drinks and liquids away from the work area.
Follow manufacturer instructions
Read and follow all instructions provided with kits and components. Do not exceed recommended voltage or current.
Battery care
Each unit has its own 18650 cells. Charge them only on the UPS board in the kit, and stop using them and tell an adult if a cell gets hot, swells, leaks, or is dented.
Place units safely
When you set up your units around the house, keep them on a stable surface away from sinks, stoves and heaters, and out of reach of younger children and pets.
Small parts
Screws, button caps and small components are choking hazards. Keep them away from younger siblings and pets while you build.
Related Projects
Continue your learning journey with these recommended projects
Nimbus
Nimbus is Month 5 of the Zynk Bots path: a bedside RGB touch lamp that senses the room around it. Tap the touch pad to switch it on, turn the dial to set the brightness, and watch it glow through a 45-LED color ring. A light sensor notices when the room gets dark, a temperature sensor and a MOSFET-driven fan keep it cool, and a small OLED screen shows what it's doing. Your settings are saved so they survive power-off, and a secret tap pattern unlocks a hidden easter egg. You're back on the Arduino Nano, trying each sensor on a breadboard before assembling everything into Nimbus's own case. No soldering needed.
Speedy Buttons
Speedy Buttons is Month 4 of the Zynk Bots path: an arcade-style reflex game you build and keep. Ten light-up arcade buttons call out targets in random order, you race to hit them in time, and an LED matrix scoreboard scrolls your score while the speaker plays sound effects. Two chrome 1P/2P start buttons let you play solo or take on a friend, so the whole family can compete. You're back on the Arduino Nano, trying each part on a breadboard before assembling everything into the game's own case. Along the way you learn non-blocking timing, the trick real firmware uses to juggle many things at once. No soldering needed.