ESP32-S3 Director
The 800×480 touchscreen is the operator desk. It requests actions, displays state and keeps the live controls clear.
ESP-NOW →
DISTRIBUTED SHOW CONTROL · ESP32
Run the show.
Run the show.
Not the browser.
Showduino separates creative control from live runtime. Build a production in Studio, operate from the Director, and let the ESP32-P4 Show Engine remain authoritative when the browser, Wi-Fi or touchscreen are nowhere to be found.
PHYSICAL SYSTEMThe current enclosure and Director exist as real development hardware.
LOCAL AUTHORITYThe ESP32-P4 owns show state, safety, timeline execution and cue dispatch.
SPECIALIST NODESRelay, MOSFET, pixel and audio roles stay separate and diagnosable.
THE CURRENT ARCHITECTURE
Four jobs. Clear responsibility.
The current Showduino system is deliberately split so operator controls, transport, show decisions and physical outputs cannot accidentally become the same job.
S3 Comms Controller
A dedicated bridge between wireless devices and the P4. It transports messages; it does not make show decisions.
UART 115200 →ESP32-P4 Show Engine
The runtime authority for state, timeline, safety, cues and emergency behaviour. The show lives here.
COMMANDS →Specialist Nodes
Relay, MOSFET, pixel and audio nodes perform commanded work and report results back to the system.
ACTUATE + REPORTStudio creates it. Director operates it. P4 runs it. A live production does not need the browser, internet or touchscreen to keep the timeline alive.
PHYSICAL PRODUCT
The enclosure follows the architecture.
The current controller is built around practical operation and serviceability, with the touchscreen Director, physical emergency control and accessible equipment connections treated as deliberate parts of the system.
Adjustable touchscreen Director
The interface is a real physical operator surface, not the thing responsible for continuing show execution.
Emergency control stays obvious
The dedicated emergency control is deliberately separated from touchscreen UI actions and normal show cues.
Connections stay accessible
Pluggable terminals, USB, Ethernet and antennas are treated as equipment interfaces rather than development-board clutter.
PIXEL SYSTEM
Segmented in the show. Unmistakable in an emergency.
Pixel lines can be divided into logical segments for show effects, while the emergency state overrides every line and drives every pixel bright white.
SHOW MODE · EXIT SIGN SEGMENTSexample: pixel 0 / 10 / 20 green
The same physical line can remain visually useful during a production while preserving logical emergency-sign groupings.
EMERGENCY OVERRIDEall pixels · bright white
Emergency state wins over show effects. The visual override is system-wide, not limited to a decorative emergency strip.
CURRENT ROLLOUT
Finish the useful core first.
The current development path concentrates on the systems that already matter to a real attraction.
Relay outputs
Commanded switching with node state and fault reporting as the target behaviour.
MOSFET outputs
Efficient control of compatible low-voltage effects and loads.
NeoPixel lines
Segment-aware effects plus a hard emergency-white override.
Audio node
Dedicated show audio nodes alongside local P4 system sounds.
SOFTWARE
Create separately. Run locally.
Showduino Studio
Build productions, arrange timeline events, define routing, preview effects and export portable `.shdo` project files. Studio is a creator and deployment tool — not the live show engine.
HauntSync
Keep track of projects and the real Showduino hardware roles: Director, Comms Controller, Show Engine and specialist nodes.
Want the architecture without the marketing?
The System page breaks down responsibilities, transports, emergency behaviour and the current hardware scope.