🏓 Arduino UNO R4 WiFi Pong

A classic implementation of the Pong game developed specifically for the Arduino UNO R4 WiFi, utilizing its built-in 12×8 LED matrix as the game screen.

📹 Preview

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ouLBTDjpKqc

📝 Description

This project transforms your Arduino board into a minimalist handheld console. By leveraging the Arduino_LED_Matrix library, the game manages ball physics, collision detection with walls and paddles, and a scoring system displayed via the Serial Monitor.

Key Features:

• Integrated Display: No external modules required; it uses the native 12×8 LED matrix.
• Local Multiplayer: Two-player support using 4 external pushbuttons.
• Dynamic Difficulty: The ball speed periodically increases to keep the gameplay challenging.
• Real-time Scoring: Points are tracked and sent via Serial (9600 baud).

🛠️ Hardware Requirements

• Board: Arduino UNO R4 WiFi.
• Buttons: 4x Momentary Pushbuttons.
• Resistors: Not required (uses internal INPUT_PULLUP).
• Breadboard & Jumper wires.

🖮 Pinout Configuration

Component Arduino Pin Function

• P1 Button Up D13 Moves Left Paddle Up
• P1 Button Down D12 Moves Left Paddle Down
• P2 Button Up D11 Moves Right Paddle Up
• P2 Button Down D10 Moves Right Paddle Down
• Common GND GND Ground for all buttons

🕹️ Game Logic

• Bouncing: When the ball hits a paddle, the X direction is reversed and the hits counter increases.
• Speed Scaling: Every 6 successful hits (hits >= 6), the loop_delay decreases by 20ms, speeding up the action until a minimum limit of 80ms is reached.
• Scoring: If a player misses the ball, the opponent scores a point. The ball then resets to the center with a randomized direction.

🛠️ Development

This project includes a Makefile to automate the workflow using arduino-cli.

Prerequisites

• Arduino CLI installed.
• Arduino UNO R4 core installed: arduino-cli core install arduino:renesas_uno

Commands

Command	Description
make prepare	Downloads arduino-cli locally and installs the UNO R4 core.
make compile	Compiles the sketch without uploading.
make upload	Uploads the compiled binary to /dev/ttyACM0.
make monitor	Opens the Serial Monitor.
make run	Full cycle: Compile + Upload + Monitor.
make run_init	Full first-time setup: Prepare env + Compile + Upload + Monitor.

Note: If your board is on a different port, edit the Makefile or override it: make upload PORT=/dev/ttyUSB0.