pico-console
A retro games console supporting multiplayer.
Author: Lungu Adrian-Costin
GitHub Project Link: https://github.com/UPB-PMRust-Students/project-addrian-77
Description
The pico-console is a compact, embedded retro game console built using Rust and the Raspberry Pi Pico 2W microcontroller. It receives player inputs through WIFI using UDP, simplifying the hardware design.
Motivation
I've always been passionate about video games, from playing to observing how they work, experimenting with settings and game modifications. Building a game console felt like a natural decision, helping me better understand embedded systems and low-level programming in Rust.
Architecture
Schematic diagram
Raspberry Pi Pico 2W
- Role: Processing user inputs, updating and sending frames
- Connections: LCD Display
LCD Display
- Interface: SPI
- Connections:
- SCK (Serial clock) to GPIO 10
- SDA (Serial data) to GPIO 11
- RST (Reset) to GPIO 14
- CS (Chip Select) to GPIO 13
- DC (Data/Command) to GPIO 15
Log
Week 7 - 13 April
Tested the display, made the controller webserver in Rust.
Week 14 - 20 April
Implemented the UDP socket on the RP Pico, drawing received data on the screen.
Week 28 April - 4 May
Created a menu interface with working inputs and a working 2-player snake game.
Week 5 - 11 May
Week 12 - 18 May
Week 19 - 25 May
Hardware
Due to the inputs being handled through Wi-Fi, the hardware is very simple, consisting of 2 Raspberry Pi Pico 2W microcontrollers and a ST7735 LCD 128x160 display.
Schematics
Wiring diagram
Bill of Materials
| Device | Usage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 x Raspberry Pi Pico 2W | The microcontroller | 79.32 RON (2 x 39.66 RON) |
| ST7735 LCD Display | The display | 28.99 RON |
| Breadboard | Base for components | 9.98 RON |
| Wires (male-male) | Connecting components | 7.99 RON |
| Wires (male-female) | Connecting components | 4.45 RON |
Software
| Library | Description | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| cyw43 | Internet driver for RP Pico | Setting up the Wi-Fi chip |
| embassy-rp | Hardware Abstraction Layer for RP2350 | Setting up SPI and GPIO |
| embassy_net | Network stack for embedded systems | Setting up the UDP Socket |
| embassy_time | Provides timekeeping, delays | Managing game loop times |
| embassy_sync | Offers synchronization primitives and data structures with async support | Sending data between tasks |
| mipidsi | Generic driver for TFT displays | Rendering graphics using the ST7735 |
| embedded-graphics | 2D graphics library with primitives, text and images | Rendering visuals, UI elements and text |
| heapless | Data structures that don't require dynamic memory allocation, suitable for no-std | Storing game data in vectors and queues |
| rand | Random number generation | Randomizing game events |
| defmt | Highly efficient logging framework for microcontrollers | Logging debugging information during development and testing |