The Showduino hardware stack follows the same architecture as the software: dedicated devices for operator control, communications, runtime authority and physical outputs.
The current build puts the operator touchscreen, emergency control, service connections and P4-based runtime into a physical system that can be mounted, opened, wired and diagnosed like equipment.
The Director is the operator-facing controller for live requests and system state.
The Comms Controller transports wireless traffic to the P4 without making show decisions.
The P4 is the centre of the live runtime: state, safety, cue dispatch, timeline execution, local storage and Showduino system services.
Ordinary, replaceable development boards rather than a sealed custom-PCB controller. Each module has a specific role, service documentation and firmware. These are reference/vendor photographs; a few are representative of the board family rather than a verified photo of the fitted revision.
CORE · EXACT MODELP4 Show Engine, mounted in the main Showduino enclosure beneath the tilting touchscreen. Runs cues, storage, system audio, local lighting and the Emergency latch.
Replacement: same P4 board revision, reflash Show Engine, fit microSD/configuration, verify UART, safety and audio before use.
Manufacturer image: Waveshare
CORE · ACTUAL SHOWDUINO PRODUCT IMAGEThe 800×480 operator touchscreen is mounted above the main enclosure. It sends requests; the P4 remains authoritative.
Replacement: match ST7262/GT911 panel, flash Director firmware, restore peer configuration and test touch calibration.
Showduino project image, not an internal PCB identification photo
CORE · REPRESENTATIVE BOARD FAMILYESP-NOW and Wi-Fi bridge. Connects the Director and specialist nodes to the P4 over UART GPIO17/18 → P4 GPIO4/5.
Replacement: confirm memory variant and pin map, flash Comms, restore pairing/MAC and Wi-Fi settings, test the P4 link.
Vendor photo (Waveshare-family S3), board revision may differ from fitted unit
SPECIALIST · MODEL FAMILYSeparate programme-audio Node with ES8388 codec and local SD WAV playback. Not the P4 system or PCM ambient audio.
Replacement: check A161/ES8388 variant (not AC101), flash Audio Node, restore media and validate speaker/emergency WAV.
Supplier image: Probots. Inspect board revision before orderingUsed for separate Pixel and wireless Emergency Node roles. Pixel data is GPIO2; OLED SDA5/SCL6. Emergency GPIO4 requires physical confirmation.
Replacement: flash the correct role firmware, assign a unique ID, set pixel count and retest Emergency input where relevant.
Vendor image: Allegro. Exact OLED PCB variant must be checked
SPECIALIST · REPRESENTATIVE HARDWAREFour-channel low-voltage digital/PWM output module. The Showduino firmware is implemented; board mapping and physical outputs still need commissioning.
Replacement: verify the exact 303E32NMOS4 board and terminals before wiring; load test DC outputs only. Never connect mains directly.
Supplier image: HappyFish/marketplace; similar family, exact PCB not verifiedService note: replacing a board requires matching its voltage, memory, pinout and firmware; it is not necessarily plug-and-play. Disconnect power first, back up configuration and complete a fresh commissioning test. Showduino show-control Emergency logic is not a certified life-safety system.
The physical build is part of the system design, not decoration added after the electronics were chosen.
The operator display remains easy to see and reposition without owning live runtime.
Serviceable connectors keep installation and troubleshooting practical.
Emergency control is physically obvious and logically separate from show effects.
Instead of forcing every effect through one generic box, Showduino uses specialist nodes that can be built, tested and diagnosed around the load they control.
C3 wireless assert-only Emergency station with independent pixel capability. Main P4 button remains local.
Solid-state control for suitable low-voltage loads.
Segmented addressable LED effects and emergency-white override.
Dedicated show audio playback beside P4 system sounds.
The enclosure is iterated alongside the electronics. See the real build and the off-the-shelf boards below; exact revisions and firmware compatibility still matter.
Produce the enclosure and interface parts around the real hardware.
Check clearances, mounting, cooling and service access.
Install connectors and keep hardware roles physically understandable.
Commission the complete path from operator request to physical output.
The P4 exposes a defined plug-in bus for supported I/O and PWM expansion hardware.
General-purpose digital I/O expansion.
Multi-channel PWM/servo-style expansion.
I²C multiplexing for repeated addresses or separate branches.
The System Guide explains why these devices are separate and which one owns the live show.