RFID Domination Timer for Airsoft & Paintball

What's inside, how it works?

The Domination Timer (DOMINATOR) is a high-performance stopwatch specifically designed for Airsoft and Paintball team games, featuring a system similar to a chess clock. This advanced timer tracks time for one team at a time and integrates an RFID reader that can read player RFID cards or wristbands to dynamically capture game points. When a team member captures a point, the timer starts counting for their team, and the team's color LED is activated. The timer continues until an opposing player takes over the point, or the game is paused or reset by a referee using their Pause or Eraser card. This system is perfect for long-duration events such as MilSim and LARP, enhancing the overall immersive gaming experience. Powered by an 8-bit AVR ATmega microcontroller, it supports up to four teams (with two teams as the standard configuration), offering precise timing and seamless game management.

Key Features:

RFID Activation: Players can easily capture a point by scanning their RFID wristband / card. That action will start the timer counting time for their team.

Real-Time Alerts: The Domination Timer emits a beep to signal a team takeover, while onboard LEDs indicate the active team’s color.

Modular design: The PCB allows the user to hotswap the main components without needing to solder.

Battery life: The system is capable to run at least 33 hours on a small 2000 mAh 5V powerbank.

Advantages of the system

Sport friendly

Can be used for Airsoft, Paintball, Nerf wars or similar sport. Possible to implement more than 100 RFID tags per each entity. Suitable or LARP, MilSim events.

Scalable

Easily scalable for 1, 2, 3 or 4 teams per game with two custom PCBs. User can clone firmware to multiple devices to make more props around playground that reacts on the same RFID tags.

Design

RFID Domination Timer 2.0 comes with cutout from access the the contrast trimmer to be able to change it during the game. Enclousre is available with belt mounts to be able to mount the device on the tree / pillar.

Power options

Device can be powered by PC USB output, or powerbank with 5V USB output directly, or via 9V Li-pol battery (requires soldering). Current consumption is similar to 40-60 mA @ 5V, suitable for powerbank use.

Hardware

List of supported hardware (PCB compatible):

Arduino Nano V3.0
LCD 2004A (20x4) with I2C converter, 5V operated
NXP RFID RC522 (13.56 MHz), 3V3 operated
ISO/IEC 14443-A RFID wristbands, cards (MiFare 1K tags - 13.56 MHz)
Buzzer, 7.62 mm pitch, 5V operated
5mm LEDs
THT resistors (220Ω up to 1K based on LED color)

Possible swaps:

Uno, or standalone AVR ATmega328P chip with external 16 MHz oscillator - not compatible with PCB design

Other components:

Pullup THT resistors for I2C bus: SDA, SCL signals (10K)
Standoff Spacer Screws, 10 mm base + 6 mm M3 thread (plastic / brass) / threaded rod can be used (if unit mounted on the wall)
Custom 3D printed enclosure 124 x 123 x 46 mm
25 mm Tie-down belt / strap
Phillips screwdriver Ø 3 mm (to be able to set contrast through the 3D printed PLA enclosure ingame)

RFID Domination Timer