Hey Guys
Ive got a project in mind that would utlilise my Pi,I was wondering if someone could point me in the right direction as I dont have the first clue where to start.
I am constructing a pinewood derby racetrack ,similar to the one in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC5qRw7QhLA
I would like to use the Pi to record race times.I'm thinking of a start and finish sensor in each lane.
And thats all Ive got so far !!! I am competent enough with software ( although I havent done any Pi programing apart from Scratch ) and my electronics skills are ok too.
Anyone got any Ideas of the equipment I would need,how to hook it into the Pi and what software I should program it all with ?
Any help very much appreciated
Gary
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DougieLawson
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Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
How do you detect the car going over the line?
Is that a micro switch with a car triggered lever?
Or were you thinking of something like a LED & a LDR?
Or a magnet on every car and a reed switch on the track?
I assume there's a race director so he'll set the lights to red while the racers prepare then set the lights to green when the clock starts. You won't need a start detector unless it's there to trap a false start. He's going to need some push buttons to set things to the right state (RESET, PREPARE, GO). Is there a random delay between the race director hitting GO and the lights going green (to make it more sensitive to driver's reactions)?
How many lanes?
Does the clock need to be on seven segment displays or an LCD or would it be OK on a HDMI TV connected to the RPi?
Are you going to use a micro-controller (GertDuino?) or are you hoping to do everything on the RPi?
Is that a micro switch with a car triggered lever?
Or were you thinking of something like a LED & a LDR?
Or a magnet on every car and a reed switch on the track?
I assume there's a race director so he'll set the lights to red while the racers prepare then set the lights to green when the clock starts. You won't need a start detector unless it's there to trap a false start. He's going to need some push buttons to set things to the right state (RESET, PREPARE, GO). Is there a random delay between the race director hitting GO and the lights going green (to make it more sensitive to driver's reactions)?
How many lanes?
Does the clock need to be on seven segment displays or an LCD or would it be OK on a HDMI TV connected to the RPi?
Are you going to use a micro-controller (GertDuino?) or are you hoping to do everything on the RPi?
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Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
Looks like a fun project.
The engineering of the track itself would seem to be the most difficult part.
The software and electrics should be straightforward.
I think you should check with other racers as to the best sensors to use at the start and end. The video suggested micro-switches for the start and light beams for the end. As long as they are digital they'll feed into the Pi.
The engineering of the track itself would seem to be the most difficult part.
The software and electrics should be straightforward.
I think you should check with other racers as to the best sensors to use at the start and end. The video suggested micro-switches for the start and light beams for the end. As long as they are digital they'll feed into the Pi.
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
Hi Dougie
There will be four lanes.I was thinking microswitch on the start line when the pins drop to trigger the timer.There wont be a display on the track as per the video,I would like the finishing times to be displayed on a screen that that Pi is hooked into.
The finishing line sensors,there would be four of them,I really dont have a clue what to do there.I would like something mounted under the finish line,I would drill holes through. that would be triggered by the car passing over it. Whats the options here ? I thought some sort of light sensor would be good , but I have zero experience in this area.
There will be four lanes.I was thinking microswitch on the start line when the pins drop to trigger the timer.There wont be a display on the track as per the video,I would like the finishing times to be displayed on a screen that that Pi is hooked into.
The finishing line sensors,there would be four of them,I really dont have a clue what to do there.I would like something mounted under the finish line,I would drill holes through. that would be triggered by the car passing over it. Whats the options here ? I thought some sort of light sensor would be good , but I have zero experience in this area.
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
The mechanics of the track are easy enough,I work in the furniture industry programming CNC routers,so I can make up some pretty fancy stuff. Here's my last project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw_b6UIgIuQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw_b6UIgIuQ
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
Just had a quick look at sensors
http://littlebirdelectronics.com/produc ... ght-sensor
So ,the car passes over the sensor,which is hooked into the Pi.In principle would something like this work ?
http://littlebirdelectronics.com/produc ... ght-sensor
So ,the car passes over the sensor,which is hooked into the Pi.In principle would something like this work ?
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
Possibly, but it's an analogue rather than a digital sensor. You really should be looking for a digital sensor.Jockinaus wrote:Just had a quick look at sensors
http://littlebirdelectronics.com/produc ... ght-sensor
So ,the car passes over the sensor,which is hooked into the Pi.In principle would something like this work ?
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
That would probably be better as it can talk directly to the Pi via the Pi's I2C bus.Jockinaus wrote:Maybe this ?
http://www.adafruit.com/products/439
I'd still check with other racers to see what they use. An on/off input to the Pi can be connected directly to a gpio and will give more accurate timing and slightly easier software.
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
Don't forget a PiCam for photo-finishes.
Re: Sensor project,complete noob help !!!!
Thanks for the advice,I think Ive got a better idea of how to go ahead.
Ive looked at some leaf micro switches for the finishing line.What worries me about a mechanical trip switch is that the cars are hand carved out of pine,and the wheels nailed on therefore the height from wheel on track to body might vary depending how well they have been made. Without that uniform height to hit a trigger the car might pass the finishing line without triggering the switch,thats why I am thinking light sensor or laser.
Ive looked at some leaf micro switches for the finishing line.What worries me about a mechanical trip switch is that the cars are hand carved out of pine,and the wheels nailed on therefore the height from wheel on track to body might vary depending how well they have been made. Without that uniform height to hit a trigger the car might pass the finishing line without triggering the switch,thats why I am thinking light sensor or laser.