What it does
Asmaan One is a portable, autonomous cricket bowling machine that delivers real balls with 2-axis smart movement and manual spin/pace control, giving young players realistic, game-like training without needing a coach, teammate, or parent.
Your inspiration
As junior cricketers, we both faced the same frustrating problem — we couldn’t have quality training when our parents or friends were busy. One session with the bulky, hard-to-use bowling machines on the market made us wonder: how hard could it be to build something better? That question sparked our journey — one far more complex than we imagined — to create Asmaan: a portable, autonomous bowling machine that makes realistic, game-like cricket training accessible to junior and amateur players around the world.
How it works
Asmaan One is a portable, autonomous cricket bowling machine designed to give players realistic, game-like training anywhere. The machine uses two geared stepper motors for adjustment of line and length — controlling pitch and yaw — so players can face realistic variations without manual input. A third manual adjustment lets users easily switch between spin and pace bowling. The design is modular and lightweight, with a 3-part system: machine head, folding harness, and telescopic stand — all built to pack neatly into a cricket bag. Unlike bulky machines on the market, our machine weighs just 10–15 kg compared to current machines that can weigh at least 40 kg. We’re also developing a mobile app, where users can connect to the machine via Bluetooth, allowing them to control the machine, load training plans, and access features like AI coaching — even if they don’t own a machine themselves.
Design process
Our initial concept was a large, high-performance bowling machine for elite cricketers. But we soon realised the true impact comes from making game-like training accessible to juniors and amateurs who lack coaching support and truly benefit from real game-like training scenarios. Our first structural MVP was built for the Enterprise Challenge using 3D-printed parts, laser-cut material, and acquired cheap resources to validate the concept. For our first functional prototype, we reverse-engineered a $150 Facebook Marketplace 3D printer, salvaging stepper motors, power supplies, and framing to reduce costs. It fired balls with golf-trundler wheels, controlled by a basic system. For our current MVP, we’ve designed a custom circuit board with an ESP32 microcontroller at its core, connected to two ESCs driving high-speed motors. We experimented with different flywheel materials — 3D-printed TPU and cast polyurethane— to optimise grip and ball speed. The machine currently fires at ~80km/h, which is estimated to be at 60% of maximum capacity limited by voltage and software. We’ve also developed an app MVP for seamless Bluetooth control. Our next steps are building a portable battery using colleagues' resources and refining the modular harness for easy transport.
How it is different
Asmaan is the first cricket bowling machine to combine true performance, portability, and ease of use in an affordable, modular system. Current machines are bulky, mains-powered, and offer limited delivery variation. Asmaan features innovative 3-axis movement — with 2-axis autonomous control for line and length, and manual adjustment for spin or pace — enabling realistic, game-like training. Its lightweight, battery-powered design allows for fast setup, removing the biggest barriers players and coaches face. Our mobile app is the first of its kind, enabling players to connect to any Asmaan machine, control settings, and access training plans. We're not just building a product — we're reshaping how cricket training is delivered, with a focus on accessibility, impact, and the next generation. This will be a revolution in how cricketers train forever.
Future plans
Our next steps are completing the fully functional MVP and continuing to explore investment opportunities. Bootstrapping has taken us far, but to achieve real impact, we need funding for legal protection, marketing, and final product development. The first round will focus on building a prototype ready for testing with schools, clubs, and players, alongside our app. A second round will help us expand the team, complete safety testing, and ensure the machine is ready for independent use and real-world feedback before going to market.
Awards
Top 5 in the Enterprise Challenge run by Entre (UC Entrepreneurship Club). Top 10 in the UCE Summer Startup Program (UC Centre for Entrepreneurship), receiving a $5,000 scholarship to support development.
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