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racing lap counter — Parallax Forums

racing lap counter

nchuckmnchuckm Posts: 6
edited 2007-11-30 22:07 in BASIC Stamp
Has anyone made a wireless transponder racing lap counter out of a basic stamp?
Thank You

Comments

  • jblavenjblaven Posts: 36
    edited 2007-11-26 17:42
    What type of racing? How wide is the track? Remote controlled cars, or "real" cars? Are you counting laps in one vehicle or many?

    Joe
  • nchuckmnchuckm Posts: 6
    edited 2007-11-26 18:17
    We are counting lawnmower racing with 8 racers at a time.

    Track Max 20'.

    chuckm
  • jblavenjblaven Posts: 36
    edited 2007-11-26 19:01
    I am by no means experienced in what your most inexpensive option is, but off the top of my head, it sounds like you could use the Xbee for wireless... this was recommended to me by Kevin Wood just the other day and last night I purchased the pro version of the development kit.

    My question would be how to get a mower specific reading as they pass by the start-finish line... Not sure how "precise" a GPS unit is, but I wonder if you could get the coordinates of the start-finish line and use it to trigger the placement of the mower as it passes.... but this could get expensive.

    I wonder if you could adjust the strength of the signal of the wireless unit so it only picks up the signal as it gets within x number of feet from the finish line.

    Just some thoughts.

    Joe
  • Tex4uTex4u Posts: 30
    edited 2007-11-28 03:09
    Could you use RFID? I know they use them for running races with lots of runners. Just a thought.

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    the more·I·find how un-common it is.
    ·
  • nchuckmnchuckm Posts: 6
    edited 2007-11-28 12:58
    I know RFID is available but we trying to hold cost down for are club.
    If anyone hears of something that would work please leave a post.
    thank You
    chuckm
  • nchuckmnchuckm Posts: 6
    edited 2007-11-29 12:57
    Joe, I have not heard much about the xbee until now, so I've been trying to know its functions and how it works

    so bear with me. From what I have read and seen tells me what your thinking.

    My thoughts are if I had a basic stamp hold the info of the racer and being different from everybody else

    then all I need is a triggering input to send the number stored in memory. would this work?

    Or would there a better way of going about this cost wise?

    thanks

    nchuckm
  • jblavenjblaven Posts: 36
    edited 2007-11-30 15:59
    nchuckm said...

    Joe, I have not heard much about the xbee until now, so I've been trying to know its functions and how it works

    so bear with me. From what I have read and seen tells me what your thinking.

    My thoughts are if I had a basic stamp hold the info of the racer and being different from everybody else

    then all I need is a triggering input to send the number stored in memory. would this work?

    Or would there a better way of going about this cost wise?

    thanks

    nchuckm

    The FedEx guy will be delivering my development kit today...· I will read up on the manuals to see what these XBees can do.

    Joe
  • nchuckmnchuckm Posts: 6
    edited 2007-11-30 22:07
    Great ! let me know what you come up with!
    Thanks
    nchuckm
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