The agility pole you already own, made into a sprint timing gate
Software: No subscription required
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How it fits together
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01
The whole SplitPole
Poles time a runner's torso crossing a laser beam. They sync by radio and the lead pole serves splits to the coach's phone.
02Brain
XIAO ESP32-C3 in each pole
The brain: it runs the splitpole firmware program
03
TFmini Plus hip beam
Measures range 1000 times a second to time the crossing
XIAO ESP32-C3 in each pole · UART (5-core cable) · 1000 Hz range readings
04
TF-Luna chest beam
Confirms the crossing was a torso, not an arm
XIAO ESP32-C3 in each pole · UART (5-core cable) · 250 Hz range readings
05
NeoPixel start lights
Show ready and go along the lane, both ways
XIAO ESP32-C3 in each pole · GPIO pin (one data line) · Colour data
06
Start buzzer
Beeps for ready and go
XIAO ESP32-C3 in each pole · GPIO pin (FET gate) · On or off tone
07
GunEar start pod
Hears the gun or sees its flash, then sends one start
XIAO ESP32-C3 · ESP-NOW radio · Start time
08
18650 + PowerBoost
Gives 5 V to both beams for about 6 hours
XIAO ESP32-C3 in each pole · 5 V power lead · 5 V power
09
All connected
7 key parts, one program, and your phone
What it is
Two clip-on sensor heads that turn a spiked agility pole into a sprint timing gate.
What it does
Who it's for
High school and club coaches, school sports days and athletics club meets.
How the parts connect
Every part, what links it to the brain, and how the data reaches your phone. A solid line is a cable; a dashed line is a radio link.
The program
void loop() {
Frame f;
if (hip.read(&f)) segmenter.push(f.range_cm, micros()); // TFmini Plus, UART1
if (chest.read(&f)) chestSeen.push(micros()); // TF-Luna, UART0
Segment s;
if (segmenter.torso(&s, 15000, 40000)) { // 15-40 ms, stable +/- 8 cm
uint32_t mid = (s.t0 + s.t1) / 2;
bool chestOk = chestSeen.within(mid, 60000); // else amber: hip only
Crossing x = { POLE_ID, mid, s.range_cm, chestOk };
esp_now_send(LEAD_MAC, (uint8_t*)&x, sizeof x);
}
syncReplyIfPinged(); // answer lead's 1 s ping
}To your phone
Coach phone browser (no internet)
One screen for each job SplitPole does.
Speed testFour poles at 0, 10, 20 and 30 m time a squad's sprints. Each run shows its splits, with the chest beam confirming the torso.
Flagged runsA player's arm cuts the hip beam but the chest beam sees nothing. The run is flagged amber so the coach can ask for a rerun.
Sports day raceAt a school sports day the gun starts the race and two finish poles read each child's lane. One helper taps the finish order on the phone.
App screens with sample data. The interface is in development.
| Split | 0-10 m: 1.82 s | Each run |
|---|---|---|
| Run flag | Amber: hip only | Each flagged run |
| Best of runs | 30 m: 4.31 s | Each athlete |
| Lane | Lane 4 (range 4.9 m) | Race finish |
| Pole battery | 74% | Every minute |
No internet and no account. Names stay on the phone; poles store only bib numbers.
CAD design · Rev A2 MeetTime design complete, all hardware fit-checked in CAD, not built
| AI processor | Seeed XIAO ESP32-C3 |
|---|---|
| Sensors | Benewake TFmini Plus IP65 LiDAR at hip height (1000 Hz, 3.6° FOV) · Benewake TF-Luna LiDAR at chest height (250 Hz, 2° FOV) · 2× Adafruit NeoPixel Stick 8 start lights · 12 mm buzzer · GunEar start pod: MAX9814 mic and BPW34 flash photodiode |
| Connectivity | ESP-NOW between poles (encrypted per kit) · Wi-Fi access point on the lead pole for the coach's phone |
| Power | 18650 3,000 mAh cell with Adafruit PowerBoost 1000C, about 6.3 h armed or 26 h idle (est.); USB-C charging |
| Enclosure | Black ASA HipHead and ChestPod with rain visors and pole collars that lock with an M5 thumb screw |
| Dimensions | Fits 25.4 mm (1 inch) agility poles; TPU shims for 22–25 mm poles |
| Timing beam | 1000 Hz, about ±0.5 ms per gate |
|---|---|
| Torso choice | About ±5 ms (est., to be tested) |
| Pole sync | About ±0.3 ms (est.) |
| Accuracy target | Within 0.02 s of a dual-beam reference on 10 m |
| Lane offset | 1.0–1.5 m, same at every pole |
|---|---|
| Alignment | None; both beams are reflectorless |
| Dark clothing | Seen to about 2.5 m (est., to be tested in sun) |
| Arm time | Under 1 s from idle |
| Armed | About 6.3 h |
|---|---|
| Idle | About 26 h |
| 2-hour practice | About a third of a charge |
Targets for production units; they may change during development.
Hardware: $199–$649 per pole, Pair or Squad Kit
Software: No subscription required
Target prices: $199 per pole, $349 Pair, $649 Squad Kit of 4 poles, $499 MeetTime Kit (2 poles + GunEar). Parts cost is about $158 per pole and $48 per GunEar at quantity 1 (est.).
$199 (target)
Add a gate to an existing set.
$349 (target)
Two poles for one timed split.
$649 (target)
Four poles for three splits, such as 0–10–20–30 m.
$499 (target)
Two finish poles and a GunEar start pod for sports days and club meets.
Indicative launch pricing in USD, excluding taxes and shipping. Final pricing is confirmed before any balance is charged.
Community
SplitPole is in development. Rate the idea, tell us what to change about the features, specs or price, and we'll build it with your feedback.
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Questions
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From the product lab · ideation phase
No. SplitPole is a concept in the in-house design and testing stage. It is designed and fit-checked in CAD but not built, and accuracy, range and battery figures are estimates until tested.
No. Times are training data. Official meet timing needs fully automatic timing systems, which SplitPole is not.
We do not know yet. Range on dark clothing comes from datasheets and estimates, so the setup card keeps poles 1.0–1.5 m from the lane, and a midday summer test comes before any claim.
In MeetTime, yes: two finish poles read each runner's lane from range for up to 6 lanes, and a helper taps the finish order. A runner hidden behind another at the line keeps the place and is flagged for a backup watch. In training mode it times one athlete per lane.
Both LiDARs are 850 nm sensors that the vendor lists as Class 1 laser products. We will confirm the label on each part revision before making that claim for the finished product.
No. MeetTime is not fully automatic timing and is not for records. Licensed meetings keep their timekeepers, and MeetTime can run as a backup. It is for sports days, open and development meetings and training races where the organiser chooses the timing.
No. A person taps the finish order, and that order always stands. If a time disagrees with the order, the page flags it and the place judge decides.
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Concept · target $199