Toy Race Car Sure Fire Winning Car Detector!

I'm not gonna believe it until I see an actual race with real cars!!

Well bring over 2 HotWheels and 2 inch tall drivers and we'll put it through it's paces!

No...............I like it. I kind of agree with RSV though about having the light stay on. A quick close race, with a quick resetting light is going to cause fights...............................especially if the race is between CR4 members.

I don't think so. If the cars were half an inch apart anyone standing there can see a clear winner. I was looking at fractions of an inch. Also one of the reasons for the amber light was when you're light goes out, you loose. So it indicates loss as well as win.

As far as CR4 drivers go, if they're from So Calif they probably would attempt to shoot out your tires nearer to the starting line

loose, lose

IT IS NOT!!!!

IT IS TOO!

Nice Job.

I would think you would want latching switches, so when the car hits the switch and keeps rolling to the end of the track past the finish line, the system doesn't reset before the looser hit the other switch.

If you put the switches in a place where the winning car has to sit on top of the switch to deactivate the second lane (momentary switch), I would think the need to abruptly stop the car in the exact right spot without having it bounce around after slamming into the finish line wall to stop the car on the switch might throw a wrench into things.

Add a latching switch set with a 555 timer to hold the latch for a given amount of time after the first car hits the button would assure you that there is absolutely no question as to which car won the race.

All-in-all very nicely done... I wish I had enough time to do stuff like that.

Thanks, I actually thought of the same things. But I wanted something really simple that your average DIY type could do. I didn't feel it was necessary to keep the lights for more than a moment. It's main purpose is to determine the REALLY close races. I think it does that well enough. And you're right, I spent too much time on it but everyone needs another project!

BTW found a new use for scrap pieces of R-10 hard foam. They work well as toy road beds.....easy to embed micro switches in to.

You could use the green LED contact to latch the relay. Just put a PBNO in series with the latching conductors to act as a reset.

peanut butter and onions?

NO NO Apples and honey.

Nice job on the project. I would be trying to use a relay or two to make the first light to stay lit until reset, while blocking power to the second light so it could not light.

But I am not the one that got off my ass and built it. If you let this thread develop long enough here, it will have blue tooth, lazrer's, computers, and light sensors soon enough.

Let it start now: I think you should............(fill in the blanks)

Actually...my very first thought was a laser or optical device. But of course for the average person that would be over their head, as well as costly. My little design was aimed at the DIY guy. If it was for me I'd probably spend $200 and it would have a bluetooth connection to post results on Facebook.

I added a capacitor to slow the speed in which the green light goes out for all those that thought it turned off to quickly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13ECMCKB5qg&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Sweete... I've got it! Instead of your system turning on an LED, we have it trigger my $30k camera I use at work. It takes 2000 flames per second. There will be no disputing who the winner is. Whoops only one problem, my boss won't let me take it home.

Flames?

I can setup the output on the high speed camera, say, after 1500 frames to trigger the flames. Boss didn't tell me I couldn't invite a few friends over for a presentation on a Sunday. Dammit; he has it lock up in a vault

2000 flames per second.

Wow! That is faster than the Key West parade.

You could try this one ^{_{- just might have to wait for them to get the flash working}}

Frames

Whatever.