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slot cars

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2004-05-03 22:18 in General Discussion
Hello all and thanks for the help. Here is my problem!
I need a program that will (on a figure eight slot car set)(using
momentary switches) create a zone around the crash area so that if
one car is running continuously and the other is manually
controlled, stop the continuously running car when the manually run
car is near the crash area. Any ideas. Thanks Rick

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-01 20:25
    In a message dated 5/1/2004 7:23:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
    geowar@a... writes:


    > I'd go optical; place an IR emitter/detector pair across the track before
    > the controlled car enters the intersection and have it disable the power for
    > the other car (but only for the section before it enters the intersection
    > from the other direction).
    >

    Good idea - you can find the IR stuff you need at www.rentron.com.

    Sid Weaver
    I2C on a BS2 platform.................
    http://www.visualmuses.com/chipcircuit/index.html





    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-02 00:21
    > Hello all and thanks for the help. Here is my problem!
    > I need a program that will (on a figure eight slot car set)(using
    > momentary switches) create a zone around the crash area so that if
    > one car is running continuously and the other is manually
    > controlled, stop the continuously running car when the manually run
    > car is near the crash area. Any ideas. Thanks Rick

    I'd go optical; place an IR emitter/detector pair across the track before
    the controlled car enters the intersection and have it disable the power for
    the other car (but only for the section before it enters the intersection
    from the other direction).

    --
    Enjoy,
    George Warner,
    Schizophrenic Optimization Scientists
    Apple Developer Technical Support (DTS)
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-02 03:09
    Great idea, we had thought of using momentary switches also. Do
    you have a thought on the direction to take in writing the code.
    Thanks Rick

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Newzed@a... wrote:
    > In a message dated 5/1/2004 7:23:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
    > geowar@a... writes:
    >
    >
    > > I'd go optical; place an IR emitter/detector pair across the
    track before
    > > the controlled car enters the intersection and have it disable
    the power for
    > > the other car (but only for the section before it enters the
    intersection
    > > from the other direction).
    > >
    >
    > Good idea - you can find the IR stuff you need at www.rentron.com.
    >
    > Sid Weaver
    > I2C on a BS2 platform.................
    > http://www.visualmuses.com/chipcircuit/index.html
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-02 05:30
    I am still figuring it out. We are doing it for our seniour mechanical engineering project. If I get anywhere I will let you know. Rick


    rcrelauctions <rcrelauctions@y...> wrote:
    Great idea, we had thought of using momentary switches also. Do
    you have a thought on the direction to take in writing the code.
    Thanks Rick

    --- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Newzed@a... wrote:
    > In a message dated 5/1/2004 7:23:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
    > geowar@a... writes:
    >
    >
    > > I'd go optical; place an IR emitter/detector pair across the
    track before
    > > the controlled car enters the intersection and have it disable
    the power for
    > > the other car (but only for the section before it enters the
    intersection
    > > from the other direction).
    > >
    >
    > Good idea - you can find the IR stuff you need at www.rentron.com.
    >
    > Sid Weaver
    > I2C on a BS2 platform.................
    > http://www.visualmuses.com/chipcircuit/index.html
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2004-05-03 22:18
    Here is a similar approach that I have used for model
    trains, to determine when a train was at a certain track
    location.

    A modified section of track might do it....

    ...Make two very small cuts or breaks in the track.
    rejoin the cuts with 5 Ohm resistors.

    i.e.

    o---X---o
    o---X---o
    | | | |
    o--/\/\-o o--/\/\-o
    | |
    o
    >|
    o
    | reverse biased diodes |
    o
    |<
    o

    X = cut in track
    Diodes should be rated at least 2X motor current draw


    ...Now monitor the voltage across each resistor( If
    you don't care about direction, just use one resistor)

    A voltage spike upward would indicate that a car has entered
    the modified track section.

    A voltage spike downward would indicate that a car has left
    the modified track section.

    Speed could be calculated based on the length of track and
    duration of time spent on the modified track.


    >Great idea, we had thought of using momentary switches also. Do
    >you have a thought on the direction to take in writing the code.
    >Thanks Rick
    >
    >--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, Newzed@a... wrote:
    > > In a message dated 5/1/2004 7:23:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
    > > geowar@a... writes:
    > >
    > >
    > > > I'd go optical; place an IR emitter/detector pair across the
    >track before
    > > > the controlled car enters the intersection and have it disable
    >the power for
    > > > the other car (but only for the section before it enters the
    >intersection
    > > > from the other direction).
    > > >
    > >
    > > Good idea - you can find the IR stuff you need at www.rentron.com.
    > >
    > > Sid Weaver
    > > I2C on a BS2 platform.................
    > > http://www.visualmuses.com/chipcircuit/index.html
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    >from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    >Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >Yahoo! Groups Links
    >
    >
    >
    >

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