[Si.]

Hi Al

Yeah...I had wondered if the Hall switches would detect an average 1:32 motor.
If not, IR is good; just thought the 'all below track' idea you had was great.

So is Dave's system using your add on circuits to the MBED ? ( he's using your software as you said ).

If I was keen to build a test version also, could you supply a schematic and provisional software ?

I like very much that the 3 sector bit is doable.

I am thinking I would like to put together a system.

I'm not too worried about PCB's & the like, as I could build on bread or VERO as you did.

Cheers

Si.

 

[asjwood]

Just performed a not very scientific test, that shows that they work fine with cars with bar traction magnets. They didn't immediately work with one of my non mag cars but once I moved the sensor closer it did. I'm not sure if you can get the sensor close enough and in a good spot with sport track. I will investigate further and report back...

I think Dave is using a light bridge and photo diodes with his system, and I sent him what I recommended as the input circuit to use.

Yes I can supply schematics and as long as you are happy that the software is "bleeding edge" you are very welcome to a copy and of course updates as they happen.

I also really like the idea of multiple sector timing and also of a speed trap, although in practice with most slot car tracks having such short lap times relative to 1:1 circuits, I'm not sure how useful it will prove to be!

A prototype on bread board is probably sensible to check everything is working nicely and then a version on vero board should be fine.

 

[Si.]

Hi Al

My MRW Motor Speedway track is ideal for a 3 sector timing setup.
The sectors are FAST, medium & slow ( pits-chicane ), just as many 1:1 race-tracks.

I would like 3 sector timing ( as 1:1 if I could possibly get it ! ).

My track is TOTALY set-up for 3 sector timing; just no timing gear at present ! ( well Scaley actualy ! ).

I am happy with your 'bleedin' software; I have to get a netbook to run it.

My electronics background is OK, mostly in audio as it happens, so should be an OK builder !!!

This looks cool...

Cheers

Si.

 

[asjwood]

My background is audio too, but mainly software.

Once I have finalised a couple of things I will post the circuit diagrams up here. You shouldn't have any trouble with it, it's all pretty simple.

 

[Si.]

Hi Al

Thanks, it looks like an exellent project.

On the current MRW circuit, we've managed to incorporate most types of corner in one track.
This has been great for doing car set-ups properly, knowing they can handle fast sweepers as well as tight chicanes.
Perfect moment to introduce a new hi-tech timing system ! ( we love our stats. at MRW ).

I'm going to have a nose about for a suitable computer for the layout room.
As I said I am considering a compact 'netbook' for 'room roaming'.
I'm guessing your software should be fine on any OS & an 'Atom' CPU.
I'm also guessing your main timing window is 'full screen'; just wondering about screen size & readability at a distance.

Also I'm thinking that as my cars are non-mag & the motors are mounted in various different ways, perhaps a conventional light-bridge for 'nose over the line' logging could be a safer bet than the Hall switches.
I do like the Hall switch idea though, probably getting a couple & testing them is the way to find out if it's good for 1:32 motors.

I figure you're getting all your power from USB, so I guess IR LED's would be getting juice from USB as well.

Anyway, thanks again Al, I'm sure a lot of people will be keen to make your project; can't wait to get going !

Cheers

Si.

 

[asjwood]

I love stats too!

The software is windows only and should work on XP although it's only been tested on Vista and 7. It requires version 2.0 of the .NET framework but the installer should take care of that in the unlikely event of you not having it.

You can probably power your light bridge LEDs from the USB but there is a limited amount of current so it depends how many you want to use...

 

[Si.]

Hi Al

Yeah...only a few LED's ( well aimed !!! ).

I'll leave next years festive lights at the track to the mains !

I figure even with sectors, that's a maximum of only 6 LED's for 2-lane, should be OK.

I was having a look at 2nd hand netbooks today, for the 'roaming screen' idea.

One I looked at a while back was the Samsung NC10, I didn't get one, got a high tech-cell instead.
However.
They seem to be getting sold-on at present, & I reckon one could be cool for the MRW timing screen.
10" display & VGA skt.

If anyone reading this has any good ideas about cheapy net-books; drop in an idea !

I only looked for the Samsung NC10 'cos I looked at 'em a while back.
Seems like with 'mad bidding-frenzys' on Ebay, 2nd hand computers are EXPENSIVE, I'm surprised; maybe I'm a cheap skate.
We'll see, there's loads of NC10's coming up anyhow.

Cheers

Si.

Lt. Daniels, THE WIRE :-

"Dukin' the stats. is what's ruining this police department."

Couldn't agree more Lt.

 

[-Sy-]

From the other thread it sounds like you've already done some Android development, there are plenty of low cost Android tablets out there < £80 GBP, if you only want something for display purposes these are fine, they aren't so good as a touch screen tho...

 

[Si.]

Hi Sy

Yeah...I was really having a look around for something that would run Al's software, had USB & VGA.
I looked at some with 7" screens but felt this was too small; 10" would probably give me good data visibility in the layout room without an extension monitor.

I figured ANDROID devices we're out, as I don't think Al's software will work without a Windows OS.

I did see some 7" super cheap 'mini PC's' however, that run Windows CE.
Unfortunatly the screen seems too small & they had no VGA socket.

I've absolutely no idea what Windows CE is.
It seems to be on cell-phones and these 'mini PC's'.
It looks like Windows CE is for your average 'browsing & word proccesing' stuff.
I'm assuming typical XP or 7 programs are not compatible with it.

Any idea ?

The ANDROID devices do look cheap & attractive for timing.
But unless they are able to run Windows written software, I guess they're not usable ?
( unless of course the software is ANDROID written )

My other option is to use the VERY OLD laptop I am writting on now, which has XP Pro & all port types.
This PC is OLD though. The battery is dead, so it's wired to the mains permanently, & it only has USB 1.0 ( but this actualy works OK for my modern Fuji F31 camera & Motorola ATRIX cell-phone.
The speed is slow, but it works fine.
I guess if Al's data is all delt with by the MBED & it 'quees up' to go via USB to the computer, USB 1.0 may work OK.

Someone payed £135 inc. del. for a 2nd-hand 2 GB Samsung NC10 on Ebay last night.
Is that NUTS ?
Or is it worth that ?

Cheers

Si.

 

[diesel]

A lot of the cheap netbooks run embedded Windows CE so you can't even install another OS. A complete waste of money. We got two free with an order at work and we had an office challenge to find a use for them - we couldn't! Which is saying something as I work in IT support!

 

[Si.]

Hi Diesel

Yeah...that's what I figured as well...

...gone the way of parallel ports & Betamax !

Oh well I'm sure Bill made a bundle out of it, so I guess it worked for him !!!

Perhaps an office 'door stop' ?

That seems to be a popular use for the ever increasing amount of dud hardware around these days.

How much do you think a 2nd-hand Samsung NC10 with XP is worth ?

£135...surely not ?

Cheers

Si.

 

[-Sy-]

stay clear of windows ce, it's completely different to win xd, vista and 7. It's as different from other versions of windows internally as windows is from android. From a programmers point of view the API is similar.

 

[asjwood]

I suspect my code could be ported to run on windows CE but I have no devices to test it on and I'm not sure how well it would run on such limited hardware... More importantly I'm not sure if there is a windows CE driver for the mbed serial connection.

USB 1.0 should be fine as the data connection between the PC and mbed isn't that fast and the speed of it doesn't actually affect performance.

 

[Si.]

Hi Al

Yeah...that Windows CE just looks like another one of Bill's money-spinners.

I've been caught out on expensive Microsoft products that don't work before.

Not a second time though, I can tell you.

I think the Samsung NC10 looks a good bet to me.

I can probably score one for a ton, if I'm patient.

Cheers

Si.

 

[asjwood]

Patience is always the best way of getting a bargain!

In answer to an early question I think I missed, the display on the software rescales for different screen resolutions and window sizes. It doesn't have a true full screen mode yet but that is pretty high on the priority list.

 

[Si.]

Hi Al.

That sounds cool on the display rescaling.

I meant that kind of, with the question.

I guess the above rescaling leaves the top & bottom bars visible.
Whereas 'full screen mode' usualy means 'press Esc' to leave.

Anyhow sounds like the timing numbers will be pretty big.

Nice.

Cheers

Si.

 

[Meccano]

Hi guys,

Just wanted to tell you I would like to build one of these when it's available. What stage is the project in ?

And my 2-cent facts & thoughts on RMS :

I own a Tomy HO track that I put up (different layouts ) every time I need to.

So far, I've been using DOS based progs (SRM and SCUDM packages) with Reed switches (don't want to carry a light bridge around and spend time "tweaking" it every time I want to race. Plus no additional power supply needed). My layout uses only one switch under each lane (with the special "nail" trick ). Works with all my cars (Pancakes and more recent traction cars).

I use an old Pentium-M laptop with a Parallel port.

I don't know if you could port your code to DOS but it would be a good idea for getting a very cheap computer to run it. I also heard that Dos timing is far more accurate than Windows...
Considering a multi-platform environment (like Java for example) could also be a good idea for running the sofware on Linux, Mac and Windows OSes. Or even a language like Python (I have the recent Raspberry Pi board in mind...) but I'm not too sure since I only recently looked at it.

Anyway, great job and I hope I can help with it.

Regards,

Bernard

 

[asjwood]

Hi Bernard,

Thanks for your interest. It has spurred me into writing a general update!

Progress has been pretty slow of late as I have been generally busy and have lots of projects on the go. Previously my car detector code was based on using interrupts. A few months back I discovered that large amounts of electrical noise could completely stop this mechanism from working. I redesigned the system to regularly poll all the input pins and this seems significantly more reliable. I think the algorithm still needs a little fine tuning though. Once I am happy the whole system is 100% I can release the reference hardware design I have produced and get some PCBs made up for those who are interested.

I have released a beta version of my RMS software to a few people and have been working through some improvements based on their feedback. Hopefully at some point I will generally release it.

The RMS code is all written in C# and uses the Microsoft .NET framework so there is more of less zero chance of porting it to run under DOS as it would need completely rewriting. Also you wouldn't gain an accuracy as the mbed is timing the detection events and simply passing that information on to the host PC to display. When the protocol is finished (I still have more I want to add to it) I will publish it and then if someone wanted to add support for the mbed in their RMS they could.

 

[montoya1]

Al - just to reiterate I am keen to use this for EAHORC meetings as soon as you are happy in can provide what we need (rotations etc). I think we spoke about trailing it alongside trackmate on Sept 1st/2nd ?

See you Sunday.

 

[asjwood]

Yes that's still certainly a possibility