FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! PUCK RACER is fully open source – both hardware and software. Source code, firmware, PCB files and 3D print data are freely available on GitHub. If you enjoy the project, we would appreciate a donation to the Schlossgarten School support association.

The software is free. You can source the components yourself and order the PCBs through a manufacturer. A single puck costs under 20 € in materials, so a set of 8 comes in under 200 €. All files and a hardware shopping list are on GitHub.

Welcome to the EU. We are currently unable to meet the strict requirements for "placing electrical devices on the market." PUCK RACER is a pure DIY maker project. We may later partner with DIY electronics shops to offer component bundles.

Short answer: Yes. But please keep the price fair! Hardware and software are both open source and free. Keep in mind, though, that you become legally responsible for the hardware you build. For "your own club" that is no problem. Selling 100 sets on eBay – that is up to you.

You can do that. We did too. And precisely because they did not convince us, we developed PUCK RACER. ;-)

You probably know someone at your sports club or among friends who has one. Otherwise: An entry-level printer like the Bambu Lab A1 mini is a great investment. You gain a new hobby and, including the printer and all components, you are still cheaper than commercial POD systems.

A modern 3D printer (such as the Bambu P1S or A1 Mini) takes about 7 hours of print time per puck using PETG. If you use our orderable PCB, soldering the remaining parts takes about 10 minutes per puck. Without the PCB (free wiring), it is more fiddly and takes about 45 minutes per unit.

The housing easily handles my 90 kg weight. It also survived the stress tests by my twins – which is pretty close to Armageddon. They are designed for sports use.

No, it does not run on regular batteries. It uses a rechargeable standard 18650 battery. This lasts roughly 4 hours of continuous use. Each puck has an integrated charging board, so you can simply charge it with a standard USB-C cable (e.g. on a multi-port charger). A dual-battery version is planned.

The Coordinator (the control unit) creates its own local WiFi network. You connect your phone to this network and open the user interface directly in the browser. No internet connection needed in the gym. Important: If your phone asks whether you want to stay connected despite no internet, make sure to tap "Yes".

We regularly test with 4 to 12 ESP32-C3 pucks simultaneously. Technically, up to 20 pucks should work reliably.

In a regular school gym, the pucks can be placed throughout the entire hall (20 to 30 metres is no problem) with the Coordinator at the sideline. For outdoor use, we are currently testing coverage on a 400-metre track.

The system lets you create favourites or put together entire training plans. This way you have your most important exercises at your fingertips and can stay organised.

Currently German and English. In the final release we will integrate 7–8 languages. However, you can use the built-in language editor to customise any text or instruction yourself.

No, and there never will be. PUCK RACER is open source – no subscription, no license, no cloud. Flash the firmware, build your system and use it indefinitely, completely free of charge.

No. All pucks can be updated conveniently and wirelessly via OTA (Over-the-Air) through the user interface.

No. If everything works and you are happy: never touch a running system. Still, it is worth checking the website from time to time to see if we have added new games for your training.

We would love to have you on board! Just reach out to us directly via Telegram – scan the QR code or tap the image. We will get back to you as soon as possible.