Slotfire Digital, Automatic lane change Options

[Slider111]

This autumn we will start production of a digital solution for our Slotfire racetrack system.



Our idea is to combine the main advantages from analogue and digital racing into one track system.

We have been working with David Caille from BLST for several months. We have developed an upgrade solution for our three lane system. With one board, our customers switch from a three-car to an eight-driver system.

With David's idea of the automatic lane change system on the track, working as an anti collision system, the drivers can concentrate on the driving. The lane changing is taken care of for them. After 50 laps has everybody learned how it works.

Normally you drive at the middle lane. It is the racing-line.


If someone in front is more slow than you, the system directs you at the next lane change to another lane so that you may overtake.


If you are at the next lane change and at the same level with your competitor the switch doesn't change the lane, both drive parallel.


Later, if you are far enough in front, the system switches you back to the ideal racing-line.


We developed a programmable control group for the lane switches which we can upgrade in the future. A first additional option is a combination with speed measurement. It allows to change on the lap with the faster driver in front (interest if two drivers in front).


One goal was the compatibility with our existing track system. Another goal is the compatibility for the cars. Our track works with both scales 1:32 and 1:24 and all brands. Therefore our prototype works with a DS Davic Solution for the digital control and the lapcounting. It is very easy to chip the cars: you must only install the chip between guide and motor.

More is not necessary. The only limit is in this moment the size of the chip. For Formula1 cars in 1:32, the chip is to big for the moment.


The system runs at between 10 and 18 volt. Enough power for the 1:24 too.

How many LC switches do you need? Every digital board (with the same size of our normal boards) has two LC sections. With one board we have fun at our test races. But for a track with twenty metres and more you need two digital boards. One with connection, one without.

Yes, it becomes expensive. For the sensors of two crosses, the switches and the laptimer we need 76 connections. Hard work. On the other hand, eight drivers can share a track and they can use a long track that takes up less space than a six or eight lane track.


Our next steps are to improve the lane switch parts and to add lane switches in curves.

Depending on our work-load, we hope that we can announce in the following months successful steps to a digital routed track system.

Rolf

[scalexkid]

This autumn we will start production of a digital solution for our Slotfire racetrack system.

The lane changing is taken care of for them. After 50 laps has everybody learned how it works.

Normally you drive at the middle lane. It is the racing-line.

Yes, it becomes expensive. For the sensors of two crosses, the switches and the laptimer we need 76 connections. Hard work. On the other hand, eight drivers can share a track and they can use a long track that takes up less space than a six or eight lane track.
Rolf

Rolf, sounds like an ideal system for the track rental operator, who wants to take it to, say, a toyfair, Scout Jamboree, School Sports day or new car model launch. With the quality construction that many of us saw and admired at the NSCC event, I am sure it will be a succesful item for you.
Oh yes, if my current employer was to make an offer of redundancy, I'd be over to collect mine in a white van, ready to promote slot cars to a whole new audience.
I guess to start with you would need venues with plenty of children (and dads - this is a mostly male pursuit?) looking for something to spend a pound a go on, getting maybe 4 minutes of marshalling, then 2 minutes of practice, and 2 minutes of 'racing', at flat out pace and a total changeover time every 5 minutes, that could be 8 pounds every 5 mins = £96 per hour, even allowing for venue hire, travel etc, it could provide a part-time income for a keen operator, even after the start-up costs, and it is not going to be a cheap item to purchase and keep a fleet of cars/trucks going.

Keeping this topical, you could rerun the Indy GP'05 once the chips fit the 1/32 F1 cars.

Best of luck with this project.

[LMP]

Hi Rolf

How many cars do you estimate will run on Slotfire Digital? It looks very interesting.

Regards and good luck!

[Xlot]

Very interesting and even better construction !!

Were you able to obtain DaVic components from DS or was it David Laurent ? I understand lane changing is fully automatic, but do you still need a dead strip for lap counting ?

With the blst principle and 3 lanes, you can probably use the outside lanes also for reslotting, but even proper reslotting stations wouldn't be a problem. Of course, you need a pit lane !

Beppe

[blst]

Hi all,

It's a nice day for Rolf and me to announce you our collaboration.

It begin with this system to upgrade SlotFire 3 lanes modules.

The number of cars and lap counting/timing depend on digital car power. The prototype is powered with Davic Standard how manage 8 cars.

Dislocations are automatic, no button to press and by this way, all digital car power are compatible.

Don't hesitate to ask us all questions you want, we will answer the best we can.

kind regards.

[LMP]

Thank you David!

[Slotrace.dk]

I think it is great that you, David (blst) got in on this deal.
It shows that if you work hard it will - hopefully - pay out!!!
But I hope it is not too expensive.
How much do you think the system will cost?

[Neo]

That's great David ! Congratulations !!!

[Eno Dog]

David & Rolf - this looks like it could be an awful lot of fun.

Is this what you were suggesting with the "Nascar" idea you were working on in your other thread David?

Your product has me somewhat intrigued guys.. fifteen nascars on an oval could make for a nice little sideline in a "tourist" town..

cheers,

David.

[Slider111]

Hi all,

some short answers:

_ scalexkid: Interest point and calculation. We need some pioneers for this business ;-))

_ LMP: we talk about 8 cars. I think this is a good relation between count of drivers and space.

_ Xlot: Yes, in this moment we work for laptiming with dead strips.

_ blst: long life for the french-german (and european) friendship :-))

_ Slotrace.dk: I hope it also. But we need time to optimize the production. So we need for the start early adaptors. At this moment nonexist some important facts for the calculation, one is the price of DS others depend on the production time for the next prototypes.

_ Eno Dog: Yes a Nascar-course sounds good. Take two of our new steep curves and two straights. It will be a easy track for a lot of fun.

Regards

Rolf

[SinclairZX81]

Looks very cool. I was thinking the other day that 3 lanes would be the best for digital systems!

[astro]

Looking very good. Are you guys working on a 'best line' for the corners, so the cars travel from the outside, through to an apex on the inside, and back out?

[LMP]

Cheers again, you are very helpful

[Slider111]

Looking very good. Are you guys working on a 'best line' for the corners, so the cars travel from the outside, through to an apex on the inside, and back out?

The second prototype is with crosses in the curves (ready next week).
It is the first step. The next steps will come sure.



Regards

Rolf

[Slotrace.dk]

That looks cool and lokks like being fun to drive!!!!!
Scalextric better look out for competition!!!!