[timcslot]

I am sure I’ve seen a post in the past showing how to create a chequered flag waver ( maybe dreamt it!), but can’t find anything substantial on the topic.
I am keen to try and create a modern flag waver for the Magneticracing flag waver cage.
Arduino sketch to control it ? -I use PCLC
Any help guidance much appreciated as ever.
Tim

 

[Flag Slot Racer]

Are we talking about a little guy that waves the checkered flag? If so, I’m interested in seeing what people have come up with. I thought about this a while back, and thought maybe servos or Nitinol wire. Then again, you could be talking about something different, and I may look like an idiot for spending so much time thinking about animating a little guy to wave a flag.

Heath

 

[timcslot]

Hi Heath
A little guy that waves a flag is exactly what I’m interested in!
PS How is the blimp progressing?
Tim

 

[timcslot]

At present I have a working start light gantry ( 1 2 3 4 5 red lights , then 3 green on for duration of race which go out as the winner crosses the line ) controlled by an Arduino Uno and the PCLC rms.
The question is how do I use the green off to trigger an arm waving figure?
Another Arduino or can I somehow use the one I have ( I am a novice)?
Unfortunately I can’t write sketches !!
Any help/advice would be be very much appreciated
Tim

 

[shoddyback]

I've also imagined doing this for my track, although I would have no idea where to start! I presume it would have to be controlled by a marshal, I have no idea how it would be automated.

 

[UshCha]

Being Blaze here, if you could get a decent figure Ideally a 3D print STL it would be possible to print it with a hole to put in a "Bowden Cable" I.e RC control cable in to rotate an arm. Arduino's have a direct output to a standard RC digital servo that could rotate the cable in the desired way and are very small and cheap. Connecting to an exsisting scketch of the start system would to me be the other challenge. The first challenge is a decent figure you can print a hole on for the actuation cable. Scalextric did do a starter sigure on a rostrum, that may hint at the way to get the actuator system to work.

 

[merkit the grof]

You just need to motorise one of those

Start man


Joel

 

[timcslot]

Thanks for the replies so far.
I’m really after a modern figure to wave the flag if possible ( I have the old Scalextric rostrum and starter which is rather dated.)
The figure is really the icing on the cake, at the end of the project - solving the automation using an Arduino is my major problem.
Can my existing sketch for running the start lights through PCLC be modified to trigger a servo when the green lights go off at the end of a race? If so, can anybody help me achieve this?
If not,do I need another arduino programmed to trigger the servo when the ‘green lights off’ signal comes through.
I can’t write code for Arduinos, so any help would be very much appreciated.
Tim

 

[Flag Slot Racer]

If PCLC turns off the green lights at the end of the race, then you should be able to to trigger the flag guy as well. Depending on what power your little guy runs at. If he requires less than 5v and less than 40ma, you should be able to run him off the existing Arduino, provided you have an open pin available. If he takes more power, then you will have to run them off a switch connected to your Arduino.

Either way, you will have to add some code to the PCLC Arduino code, but don’t let that intimidate you. If you know what pins you plug the green lights in to, you can search the PCLC code and find where those lights are turned off when the race is finished, then you could set whatever pin your guy is hooked up to to “HIGH”, which will make him waive his flag.

You inspired me, with your question about the blimp, and I went out and taped off the yellow section. Thanks for following up with me about it.

Heath

 

[timcslot]

Hi Heath
Good to hear from you.
What you say about hopefully using the same Arduino sounds very promising.
The little guy’s pin is set to high within the code at the point where the race finishes powers up the servo which can presumably be set for few seconds - almost sounds as though I know what I’m talking about!!!
Do you code Arduino?
If you do could I send you the sketch to have a look at - if not no worries.
All the best
Tim

 

[Drifter2]

I think you’re ok with the existing Arduino running a hobby servo as long as the is minimal mechanical resistance on the servo. This will minimise current draw. Take a look at the sweep example in Arduino for pointers.
If someone would like to send the existing sketch over I’ll take a look.

 

[timcslot]

Hi Drifter
I’ll send you the sketch that Geoff 997 wrote a few years ago, that I use with PCLC.
Hopefully you can help 🤞
Tim

 

[Drifter2]

Thanks Tim,
new sketch waiting for you in your PM

 

[timcslot]

A couple of weeks since picking up my MagneticRacing flag waver rostrum at Gaydon and the project is complete.
Firstly, a very big thank you to Clive (aka Drifter2) who answered my plea for someone who could modify my start light Arduino sketch. (The version I use was last modified by GregK back in 2014). In a very short time an email arrived from Clive in Sydney,with the updated sketch attached (the wonder of modern tech!).
Now at the end of a race ,when PCLC turns off the green lights ,a servo is triggered that moves the flag waver’s arm for 5 seconds - just what I wanted!

For me the hard part has been the flag waver himself!
With no adequate 1:32 figure available I ended up “butchering” an Airfix 1:32 WW2 American Marine with Dremel etc. and filler. A new head ,courtesy of a cheap Gaydon purchase and the transformation was complete.
Here are some pictures and a link to a very short video.

With regards to the sketch,Clive is very happy for this to be shared.
Tim

 

[timcslot]

Hopefully this video link works!

Slot track flag waver

youtube.com

 

[Ade]

Fantastic 👍🏼👏👏👏👏, more innovation in Digital 😎.

Congrats to all involved 🙌

 

[timcslot]

Thanks Ade- it is such great fun to do and so satisfying!
What next is the question?

 

[Flag Slot Racer]

Looks fantastic Tim! Good job with that army figure.

 

[vs-Admin]

Test. Could someone please reply to this?

-Mike

 

[Ade]

Test