<div><strong>Help Us Bring Fair Line Calls to Pickleball with Low-Cost LiDAR Tech</strong>
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<div>We are a group of senior engineering students at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, working on our capstone project in Engineering Design &amp; Development. Our dream? To turn our classroom prototype into a real startup that brings fair, affordable, and automatic line calls to pickleball courts everywhere..
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<div>We’re developing a LiDAR-based system that can accurately call whether a ball is in or out—first for pickleball, and eventually for other racket sports. Our goal is simple: make the game more fair, less frustrating, and more fun for everyone.
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<div>We’re asking for your support to help us fund parts, sensors, processors, housing, testing equipment, and early manufacturing so we can bring this idea to life beyond the classroom.
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<div><strong>The Problem: “In or Out?” Shouldn’t Ruin the Game</strong>
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<div>Pickleball is exploding in popularity—over 13.6 million players in 2023, with the market projected to reach $9.1 billion by 2034. But with that growth comes one of the sport’s biggest frustrations: line calls.
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<div><strong>Research:</strong>
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<div>Through our research, surveys, and interviews with players and officials, we found:
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<div>Over 80% of players reported being frustrated by questionable line calls.
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<div>Disputes happen constantly because of bad viewing angles, fast ball speeds, and simple human error.
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<div>Existing tech solutions (like advanced camera systems and AI apps) are:
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<div>Too expensive for most players and local facilities
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<div>Too complex to set up
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<div>Often not portable and not reliable in real-world lighting and weather
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<div>Fair line calls shouldn’t just be for pro tours and TV matches. Recreational players, local clubs, and community courts deserve that fairness too.
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<div><strong>Our Solution: An Affordable LiDAR Line-Calling System</strong>
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<div>Our team is building a portable, LiDAR-based device that sits near the lines and uses laser distance sensing to detect whether the ball lands in or out, based on official pickleball rules.
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<div>From our engineering proposal, our system is being designed to:
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<div>1. Be affordable
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<div>2. Target cost under $100 for recreational players
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<div>3. A more advanced version under $1000 for clubs and tournaments
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<div>4. Set up in under 3 minutes – no special training required
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<div>5. Deliver a call within 1 second of the ball landing
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<div>6. Reach at least 95–97% accuracy in testing
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<div>7. Be weather-resistant and durable for outdoor courts
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<div>8. Stay compact and lightweight, fitting into a backpack or small case
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<div>9. Comply with USA Pickleball (USAP) regulations, so it can be used in both rec play and competitive settings
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<div>Unlike expensive camera systems, our device uses simple, robust hardware and smart software to give clear, unbiased, real-time calls—no replay review, no subscription, no fancy setup.
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<div><strong>Why We Believe This Will Work:</strong>
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<div>We didn’t just guess what players want—we asked them and interviewed experts:
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<div>We surveyed dozens of pickleball players and found that:
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<div>A huge majority are frustrated with line calls.
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<div>The top priorities are portability, ease of setup, and trustworthy accuracy.
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<div><strong>We interviewed:</strong>
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<div>A tournament organizer who confirmed that disputes over line calls happen in every tournament.
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<div>Certified referees who explained how difficult it is to judge a ball the size of a dime at high speed, especially from bad angles.
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<div>A professional camera replay operator who shared how complex and fragile current camera-based systems are—they use multiple cameras, high frame rates, lots of wiring, and still struggle with certain calls.
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<div><strong>Their message was clear:</strong>
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<div>We need something simpler, more portable, and more accessible that still respects official rules and improves fairness.
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<div>That’s exactly what we’re building.
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<div><strong>What Your Donation Will Help Fund</strong>
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<div>Your support will directly fuel our engineering and startup journey. Funds will go toward:
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<div>LiDAR sensors and electronics (distance sensors, microcontrollers, processors, power systems)
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<div>Prototyping materials for weather-resistant housings and mounts
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<div>Testing equipment to validate accuracy on real courts in different lighting and weather conditions
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<div>Software development for signal processing and decision algorithms
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<div>User interface design (visual and/or audio indicators that players can easily understand)
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<div>Pilot testing at local pickleball facilities and tournaments in South Florida
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<div>Every dollar helps us move from school project → working product → real-world solution.
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<div><strong>Our Vision:</strong> Fairness and Justice in Every Match
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<div>Our mission goes beyond just cool tech. We care about fairness, justice, and community in sports.
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<div>We’ve seen friendships strained and games ruined over close calls that no one could clearly see. With our LiDAR line-calling system, our goal is to:
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<div>Reduce arguments and tension on the court
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<div>Give players confidence that the game is being called fairly and consistently
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<div>Make high-quality line-calling technology accessible, not just reserved for pros
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<div>Eventually expand the system to other sports like tennis, badminton, and more
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<div>We’re just a group of high school senior engineers, but we’re serious about making an impact—starting with the sport we love.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help</strong>
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<div>If you’ve ever:
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<div>Played a match that was decided by a sketchy line call
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<div>Watched a close point and thought, “I wish we had a robot to detect if the ball was in or out.”
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<div>Wanted to support young engineers building real solutions to real problems
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<div><strong>…then this project is for you.</strong>
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<div>Please consider donating and sharing our GoFundMe with:
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<div>Pickleball friends, Local clubs, Coaches, players, and community centers
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<div>No amount is too small. Every contribution brings us closer to creating a fair, affordable, LiDAR-based line-calling system that could change the way pickleball—and eventually other sports—are played.
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<div>Thank you for believing in us and in a more just and joyful game.
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Troy Liddi

Jessica Guzman

Carlos Arzola

Cheryl Pierce

Just $770 to go!
Make an impact.

HS Seniors’ Pickleball Line-Calling System

Just $770$ to go! Make an impact.

HS Seniors’ Pickleball Line-Calling System

Just $770 to go!
Make an impact.