lap counter (please help)

[hilbren]

I want to make a lap-counter, the only problem is how.
What I do know is that most professional systems work with radio frequencies. Know that’s not a big problem for me, I’ve got a scope and I can build transmitters and receivers. The biggest problem is how to electronically identify every car…
And even a bigger problem: what if two cars pass at the same time ???

At first I was thinking about doing the transmission whit IR; that way I could build a single chip IR remote control chip. That way I could give each car specific code.
The only problem with IR is that most IR led’s work at a maximum frequency of 56khz, and that’s to slow. And off course the biggest problem, that if two cars pass at the same time.

And then I found a usable atmel chip, but I can’t get it anywhere here. So that’s also not usable :’(

Anyone else ? ideas ?

[leccyflyer]

Moved to Cars forum.

Good luck.

Brian

[hilbren]

Why cars ??, this system can also be used for pylon races. :rolleyes:

[leccyflyer]

Well the original post said cars, not pylon racers.

I'll move the thread to modelling science which is for the discussion of electronics etc.

Brian

[Sparky Paul]

"..electronically identify each.. vehicle..."
Way back when, Ontario Motor Speedway when was running Indy cars, I was working "black flag" on the back straight on a qualifying day.
The announcer was working up the crowd on each new "high speed of the day" as the qualifiers ran.
Lloyd Ruby, perennial bride's maid at Indy was out qualifying, doing really really good, as was the driver in Lloyd's back up car... The announcer was getting frantic as Lloyd came onto the front straight.... Possibly a "new record" for the day, near 200 mph!... Only...... the back car had the SAME car ID in the lapcounter, and the clock didn't care. It started on the backup car, which was behind Lloyd, but stopped when Lloyd passed the finish, for 214!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mph... NOT! :)

[hilbren]

Originally posted by Sparky Paul
It started on the backup car, which was behind Lloyd, but stopped when Lloyd passed the finish, for 214!!!!!!!!!!!!!! mph... NOT! :)

:D, I have seen this system several times, mostly used for the micro cars.

but there's one problem with this system: it can't see the differents between an antenne passing with a speed of 1mph or a flag with a speed of 50mph