Operation Neptune – IoT Escape Game
A cold war submarine escape game where players race through five connected IoT challenges — powered by Raspberry Pis, Arduinos, MQTT and a central admin panel — to stabilise systems and launch a final torpedo before time runs out.
Gallery
A look at the submarine set, props and IoT-driven challenges.
Problem → Solution
Brief: Build a Web of Things escape game that another operator can run without us: hardware, software, reset flows, safety and documentation included.
Concept: Operation Neptune drops a 3-person team inside a damaged submarine during a cold war conflict. Players must restore power, recalibrate sonar, locate enemy vessels and launch a torpedo to neutralise the threat.
System: Each challenge runs on Raspberry Pis and Arduinos that communicate over MQTT with a central Main Admin Pi. The operator dashboard controls the timer, start/reset per challenge, and sends tips to an in-room display.
Outcome: A fully working escape game with a central control panel, soundscape, camera integration and a detailed postproduction dossier so the experience is reproducible.
What I learned
- How to lead a team: planning, delegating, following up and keeping everyone aligned on one shared vision.
- Running lightweight scrum-style standups and check-ins to track progress, surface blockers early and keep the project moving.
- Gaining confidence with hardware & IoT (Raspberry Pi, Arduino, sensors) despite starting with almost no electronics experience.
- Self-learning Python on the project: writing MQTT logic and integration scripts without formal classes.
- Creating a collaborative, creative environment where every teammate’s ideas were heard, challenged constructively, and reflected in the final experience.
- Staying organised under constraints (time, budget, hardware) and turning that structure into a smoother build and install.
Challenge structure
- Alarm & Power Failure: Players react to red alert signals and use clues to open the fuse box and restore initial power.
- Power Patch Panel: Cable-routing puzzle with LED feedback where correct connections bring systems back online.
- Sonar Calibration: Webcam + cards challenge to recover sonar visuals.
- RFID Naval Map: RFID-tagged ships must be placed correctly on a 4x4 grid to lock enemy targets.
- Torpedo Launch: Three potentiometers tuned to the right values arm the illuminated launch button, which sends the final MQTT "solved" signal.
Technical appendix (Challenge 5 – Torpedo Launch)
For reviewers who want to dive into the implementation details, here’s how the Raspberry Pi, Arduino Leonardo, potentiometers and MQTT work together to drive the final challenge.