iCue

What it does

iCue helps cue sports players improve their performance by giving real-time feedback on their shots using a combination of AI and motion sensing. It solves the problem of limited access to coaching by offering smart, guided training anytime, anywhere.

Your inspiration

The idea for iCue came from constantly seeing players like me put in effort without knowing how to actually improve. Cue sports tech like AR projectors do exist, but they are either too expensive or built for professionals with full setups. For everyday players like me, it is overwhelming and out of reach. Most are left trying to guess what went wrong with their shot. It felt like cue sports had been left behind while other sports embraced smart training. In a city like Dubai, where tech is everywhere, this gap stood out even more. iCue was created to fill that space with something simple to use, affordable and genuinely helpful.

How it works

iCue uses a small motion sensor that clips onto your cue stick & tracks every shot you take. It picks up how straight your cue moves, how steady your hand is, the angle of your shot & the way you follow through. This information is sent straight to a mobile app, which uses artificial intelligence to study the shot and give you feedback right away. It tells you what you did well, what went off & what you can do to improve. The more you play, the more the app understands your style & gives suggestions that actually fit you. There are no wires, no cameras & no complicated setups. You can use it anywhere, whether you are at home, in a club, or just practising casually. The app also keeps a record of your progress, shows you trends in your performance & gives reminders to help you stay focused. Each session helps the system learn more, making your feedback more accurate & more personal. It is like having a coach who is always there, always ready & never in the way.

Design process

I began building iCue with a clear goal in mind, which was to give players useful feedback using simple and affordable tech. I used an ESP32 board and an MPU6050 sensor to track acceleration and rotation in three axes. This helped capture cue movement, speed, angle, timing, and follow-through. I designed and 3D printed a custom mount to hold the sensor on the back of the cue stick. After a few iterations, I made it light, compact, and stable during gameplay. I realised that I needed a battery to keep the hardware running, so I added a TP4056 module, which made the device rechargeable. The ESP32 reads motion data and sends it wirelessly to a mobile app using WiFi. This lets the system run without cables or extra setup. I first used basic logic to give feedback and recommendations, but it felt too generic. I then trained a machine learning model, but the accuracy was low. I finally switched to a GPT-based system that gives more intelligent and clear feedback using the data. The app explains each shot in simple terms and shows what to improve. I added progress tracking, habit insights, and reminders. With every test, I kept refining the accuracy, feedback, and overall experience. Today, iCue works as a smart coach that fits in your pocket and helps you improve anytime, anywhere.

How it is different

Most training tools for cue sports are either made for professionals or require expensive cameras and full setups. They can be hard to use, hard to carry, hard to afford, and not built for regular players. What makes iCue different is how simple and accessible it is. The motion sensor is small, light, and clips easily onto any cue stick without affecting how you play. It connects wirelessly to your phone and gives instant feedback after every shot. It shows you visual graphs of how smooth your shot was. There is no need for a coach, no need for a studio setup, and no need to guess what went wrong. The app breaks down your shots in plain language and even learns how you play. Unlike other systems that just throw stats at you, iCue gives clear guidance and tracks your real progress. There are even YouTube tutorials it recommends following. It brings smart training to players who just want to get better without the stress or cost of traditional methods.

Future plans

Next I plan to improve the sensor by making it smaller, lighter & more durable so it blends better with the cue stick. I also want to add hand movement tracking using the phone camera for a more complete view of player form. Another feature in development is a haptic feedback system that gives gentle vibrations on errors, helping players react instantly. The app will be upgraded with video playback, shot comparisons & a space for players to share progress with others. On the business side, I aim to launch in the UAE through direct sales & club partnerships, then grow regionally. The long-term goal is for it to be used by players worldwide.

Awards

InterSys University Research Competition 1st Runner-Up Top 20 Globally in the Computer Engineering Category in Abu Dhabi University URIC Competetion