[chris99]

Maybe early days yet and no downloads or instructions, but looks like MIH has turned his attentions to improving Scalextric lane changers

:
QUOTE LC-Pro
The Lane Change pro is a new function for the Scalextric Lane Changers. Designed to increase functionality past the simple change-lanes or not, the concept is to provide

• Less 'follow-on' of tail-gating cars due to slow flippers.
• Anti-collision preventing cars from changing lanes if a car detected in other lane

Source

and SSD decoder analysis here

Hopefully the soldering to connect the programmer won't be as challenging as InCar-Pro on a DPR chip.

Anyone have any more info?

Chris

 

[GregK]

What ........

??

 

[johnsxr8]

Nice, i look forward to this one

 

[MrFlippant]

That would be super cool.
If he could make them flip straight when powering up, that would be awesome for analog mode use.

 

[mINdAt3z]

That´s great news. Since Hornby doesn´t seem to touch the durn firmware since release, someone should.

 

[Damo]

Can anyone explain how it works please? Or, am I being a bit thick here.

Cheers,
Damo.

 

[MrFlippant]

Essentially, the idea is to program the lane changers with new code so that they have these features. It will be similar to reprogramming the car chips, by soldering wires to the board and using a programming tool and a PC to force the new code into the chip.
With enough space, and clever programming, MIH could make the lane changers do what they already do, and much more, just as he has done for the in-car chips.

 

[Damo]

So they'd close after a car went through eliminating the tailgating and they'd know if another car was to close and prevent a change to avoid a collision?

 

[RikoRocket]

I'd guess that the limit would be if an ID was detected in both lanes then lane changing would be disabled. MIH may be able to speed up response to prevent tailgating, but it would very much depend on the existing code speed.

 

[GregK]

QUOTE So they'd close after a car went through eliminating the tailgating
It is not as simple as that ...... what if the following car also wanted to change lane? If the LC changed back to the original position, how would the system cope with the 2nd request??

QUOTE they'd know if another car was to close
Similarly, what would you do if the car's request is not pickup up by the sensor because of tail-slide and another car has requested a change???

When you actually start delving into the complexity of lane changing then the more you realise that Scalextric provided a reasonable solution for a reasonable price. That's not to say that it can't be improved upon ........

 

[Ade]

hi
any updates on this exciting sounding development.

 

[RikoRocket]

He hasn't posted a download yet. But checking his site he is actively doing stuff, he has been updating web pages in the last couple of weeks

 

[chris99]

QUOTE (RichG @ 28 Jul 2012, 18:18) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Not the same so no go at the moment. At some point I have in mind redoing the firmware for the lane changers so that cars can be detected & send their data for sector timing / improved pace Cars, so that would also allow them to be used for starts as well.

Rich
Hi Ade,

I forgot about this post from the Display-Pro thread, so it seems lane changers are getting attention from at least two different directions. Maybe Andrew will jump in as well?

Chris

 

[Ade]

Hi
Had a quick squint at this tiday but still can not see anything,does anyonehave any news.