[Mr Modifier]

Hello,

Gaydon is fast approaching and, once again, I will be sharing stand space with Chase-Cars.

Last year we set up a test track using Scalextric Sport and a hybrid Analogue/Digital setup using a standard Sport analogue PB and a digital 4PB that can simply be swapped-out using a single interchangeable connector.

This worked quite well and allowed us to run all of Gareth's chase-cars whether analogue, or chipped and fitted with SureChange.

We are going to be doing the same this year but I wanted a way to attract people to the stand and nothing draws a slotter in more easily than a moving slot car. The problem being this requires one spare human as the 4PB doesn't have a pace car function.

So I asked myself "why not make one?"

I didn't get an answer so I pressed ahead anyway.

So here it is; a twin controller.

Above the coloured speed controls is a 3 way switch - switch it left and the car runs as if it has the LC button constantly pressed so it always changes lanes. Switch it in the middle and the controller is off line. Switch it to the right and the car runs in the same lane all the time.

The speed control is infinitely variable between zero and full throttle.

The switch below the speed control is a momentary brake button - hold it down and the brakes are applied but let go and it springs back up and the brakes come off. You can use this to stop or slow a car temporarily, or on the APB it can be used when manually ID'ing the car.

So there we are - two sets of controls so two pace cars can be set running independently of each other.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Here's a video of it in action...

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/9ho9NfK8XEY?rel=0

 

[RikoRocket]

There will be a market for that I'm sure!

But how about making them ID 5 and 6. Reprogram 4PB with PB-Pro code and in the code have ID 5 and 6 set as default pace cars at a (non-variable) set speed with random lane change set?

 

[MrFlippant]

Excellent!
Out of curiosity, why a sprung switch for brakes rather than a button?
Also, how much will these wunderdevices cost?

 

[Mr Modifier]

@RikoRocket - LOL - if you saw inside the box you would see that it is devoid of anything electronic. I can solder circuits with switches and resistors and potentiometers etc. but anything that requires programming ... nah.

@MrFlippant - I hadn't thought about pricing - it was a bit tongue-in-cheek really. PM me what you think it is worth and I will work out what I could build it for and if there's a gap I could do a small production run.

I picked a sprung switch because I couldn't find an on-on push button. I would prefer a button for the brakes - I will hunt for a supplier and the Mk2 will feature it

I only had the idea on Friday - ordered the bits from ebay and they arrived this morning (Monday) so I put it together this evening and here it is.

 

[MrFlippant]

You did such a spiffy job on it, I was sure it was a R1R product launch.

There's definitely a market for them, what with all the casual slotters with the 4PB out there. As for cost, I'd start at double the total parts cost and see how well they sell, or if the parts happen to be really cheap, raise the price a bit. When it comes down to it, you're replacing 2 controllers with an easier to use, and more versatile, system to keep a couple extra cars going. You might be able to price it around the cost of two Scalextric Digital controllers. List them on ebay from time to time, and I bet you can sell dozens.

 

[Mr Modifier]

Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated.

I think as it stands I could sell it for GBP 31.00 + postage.

With big red brake buttons it would go up to GBP 36.00 + postage. Strangely a momentary ON On push button is a rare and expensive beast.

I could shop around and maybe shave a little off the component prices if I buy enough to make a dozen or so.

Perhaps I should make some up and give it a go.

 

[MrFlippant]

I don't see why not. While you might not get many sales from hobbyists, who are more likely to have the APB, I would bet there are enough people out there still using the 4PB to have a go at selling a few. That's why I suggested ebay, as those types of casual users are more likely to look for cool SSD stuff there than on a forum. Crazy, right?

Besides, you've already got the marketing video made up.

 

[sealevel]

Firstly, a great idea, Mr. Modifier!

Did you get the idea from the "automated safety car" control box of GregK and Ade? [link]

As Mr. F. and others have said, you took the components of 2 controllers (rheostat plus resistors for lane change and brake) and packaged them elegantly and professionally. Good on you!

Two questions for you...

1) if the lane change switch has "change - off - straight" why do you need "off"? With the controller it is either "change" or "off" depending on whether or not the button is pushed.

2) if this plugs into the PB so that you can ID the cars, then how do you use this as IDs 5 or 6 with a 4-car PB? (I obviously missed something there...)

Congratulations on the speed and quality of this project!

Cheers!

 

[MrFlippant]

I think the "off" is for the whole box. This would permanently stop any cars on that ID.
I think the 5+6 on the 4PB was a joke... mostly. I remember some chatter about upgrading the 4 car base to be able to ID 5+6, but I don't think it ever got past someone's work bench into the wild. I know I'd love to make a 4 car base more useful.

 

[sealevel]

QUOTE (RikoRocket @ 17 Feb 2014, 15:46) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>But how about making them ID 5 and 6. Reprogram 4PB with PB-Pro code and in the code have ID 5 and 6 set as default pace cars at a (non-variable) set speed with random lane change set?
This is the quote I was referring to, Mr. F.

Has anyone actually reprogrammed a 4PB? Without the AUX port, it sounds like the kind of work done on the InCar-Pro chip programming.

Cheers!

 

[Mr Modifier]

Hello Sealevel,

Hand on heart I has not seen the automated safety car box before - I will have to read the thread in a minute. The idea came because I wanted some pace cars running round our Gaydon demo track and we use a 4PB.

Riko was having a joke about ID's 5 and 6.

The "off" position is to switch off the throttle. That way you can stop a car but retain the speed setting.

 

[chris99]

QUOTE (Mr Modifier @ 18 Feb 2014, 08:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Riko was having a joke about ID's 5 and 6.... or was he - wasn't MIH working on this aspect?

Good to see the Autopilot pace car box project revisited. I think £30 might be a bit steep unless you can add a feature like random lane changing. No problem if you add in a £3 Arduino Pro-mini, or the more user friendly £5 Nano, and a call in a favour from a helpful programming friend

... or a community effort like for PCLC lights. I feel a new thread coming on.

 

[RikoRocket]

Chris99 knows me well....

Before the Pit Lane Game came along we were looking at the C7039 lap counter as the way to make Pit-Pro. AndyS was looking at porting the code from PB-Pro and using that as the basis for the car detection and communication, as most of the fundamentals were in there.

So what I was postulating was, can we port PB-Pro code into the 4 car powerbase. I know we don't have any throttle inputs for 5 and 6, but actually the drive to the rails and the packets that communicate with the cars has nothing to do with input.
And pace cars are built into the code. Currently the PB-Pro code looks for a throttle to be unplugged before it becomes a pace car, but to make them automatically there would only be a minor change to the code.

Of course you cant ID 5 and 6 without a throttle. But then we would have to write the interface to the buttons anyway so to have two button presses for 5 and 6 should be easy enough (stealing MIH's idea!)

So any ideas on how we could regulate speed for 5 and 6?

I would only have them on random change (again already in PB-Pro code) and married with Maurizio's anti-collision XLC that would be perfect.

OTT? You could just buy Mr Modifiers simple box....

 

[Mr Modifier]

OK I have done some rooting around evilbay and managed to drive the component prices down. It's amazing how much cheaper it gets if you are prepared to wait 3 weeks for stuff to arrive.

I can replace the momentary toggle switch (for the brakes) with a big red push button.

If I make a small production run of 20 units...

Selling price would be GBP 25.00 + postage for a twin pace car unit.

I could also make a single pace car unit and that would need to be GBP 15.00 + postage (more than half because of the enclosure costs).

Is anybody interested at that price?

 

[RikoRocket]

I would put it on ebay as a starting price, I reckon you will find the market price as people bid it up.
Less than the price of a car, thats going to sell well....

 

[Mr Modifier]

I will order some bits then. Enough to make 20 units (I can take some to Gaydon if they don't all sell on Ebay and here).

Just got to wait 3 weeks for it all to arrive on a slow boat

 

[Also Keith]

Mr Modifier - I am interested in a double one at GBP 25 + postage.

Kind regards,

ak.

 

[Mr Modifier]

Hello ak

Thank you

Yours will be the first full production model !

All the bits are ordered and expected with me around 6th March.

I have gone for a red push button for the brakes (it will be easier to operate if it needs to be pressed in a hurry).

 

[Also Keith]

Thanks Mr. Modifier - looking forward to it.

Regards, ak.

 

[sealevel]

QUOTE (chris99 @ 18 Feb 2014, 00:30) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Good to see the Autopilot pace car box project revisited. I think £30 might be a bit steep unless you can add a feature like random lane changing.
Already been done! Dave Chang (Astro) describes how to do this as a DIY on page 28 of his "Digital Slot Racing..." book.
I figure I can build one for less than C$ 25 in parts.

I find many things mentioned on this forum easier to find in his book ... (no I do not get royalties!), as well as info about non-SSD systems that I do not have the time to search out on here.

Cheers!