Scorpius-wireless Digital Slot Car Project.

[ade]

Nice to see properly laid out pcb for a change and not just dressed up as something that's just designed to piggyback onto Arduino boards.. 

Scorpius digital leading the way again with innovation and class leading ideas for the digital community, the first wireless project and still the best.. 

[munter]

What a beat up, Ade

 

[aussieslotter]

20 hours ago, munter said:

What a beat up, Ade

 

Only if it’s not true Mr Munter

Thanks Ade much appreciated 

[aussieslotter]

Worldwide shortage on microprocessors is getting worse with up to 8 month wait on Nordic chips.

But I know a little birdy at Nordic to secure these babies. NRF52840-CKAA-R

Without these chips the project is frozen so we are grateful. Thanks Wendell at Nordic.

 

Edited July 15, 2021 by aussieslotter

[SlotsNZ]

Sheesh, It's not easy out there in so many ways ..... glad I am not at the coal face of business now. 

.... And when the forum software posts this, it will be "cold one o'clock" and "weekend free time" this side of the moat.  

Hope you don't mind the diversion below Rick. 

A mildly interesting epistle to some people  follows. - just because chip shortages reminded me of this old story from about 30?? plus years ago, when Hitachi produced the first 32 bit RISC chips. There were a dozen released to some big developers around the world.
But there were 4 chips that the competing giants around the world couldn't figure out where they were, and Hitachi weren't telling.
About the same time Acorn (BBC) computers were going bust because the lads got too big, and too focused on playing with some Formula 1 car project with the profits from 8 bit BBC home and school computers.
The Acorn company was duly bought by Olivetti.
The Monday the Olivetti execs turned up to stamp control, the boffin boys said,

"you need to come out the back, we have something to show you
"What is this" ( a mess of boards, chips, wires and screens)
"A 32 bit home computer" 
"What, how could it be"
"These are the 4 missing Hitachi RISC chips"
"How far have you developed the hardware"
"We just need money buy more chips, etch the boards and mold the cases to make the computers to sell"
"what about a consumer operating system"
"Finished, ready for release, we just need money buy more chips, etch the boards and mold the cases to make the computers to sell"
The first Archimedes 3 hit the market about 8 months later.

And that was how ARM Ltd was born. 

Of course, Olivetti also fell over, but ARM Ltd has become a monster through the decades.
Never forgotten being told that story by some people connected with the company at the time.

[aussieslotter]

Interesting story Mark. You know it’s affecting the public when Mustang production in the US is frozen while they wait for chips. People losing jobs because of supply issues. Etc.

Rick

[aussieslotter]

Sneak peek at work in progress on version 4 of the MPD.
The previous version was 26.00x13.00mm
On this version I have added:
1.Additional photo transistor on flylead on seperate input for Scalextric Sport Digital lane changer electronics with anti collision and wireless telemetry.
2.Additional LED on its own input for SCX compatibility.
3.Additional motor drive circuit for SCX plunger or solenoid a second lane changer solenoid ie double lane changer or lane changer with moving exit flipper 
4. Beefed up motor circuit. 
5. Additional EMF protection power in.
6. Additional EMF protection power out.
7. More advanced and smaller processor.

And the size is very similar at 26.00x13.30mm!
Yet again amazing work from John and we are now seeing the benefits of knowledge gained from the Nano decoder which measures only 9.4x5.0mm.

Leads for hall sensor, front and rear lights and power in/out will have mini jst plugs on flyleads.

Edited July 19, 2021 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

MPD FEATURE LIST

 

1. Multipurpose. Can be used as car decoder, lane changer driver, pit detector or lap counter for 5 brands
2. Small 26.00x13.00mm size.
3. Scorpius compatible
4. Carrera full car decoder compatibility.
5. Scalextric Sport Digital full car decoder compatibility.
6. SCX car decoder compatible if using Scorpius controller.
7. Ninco car decoder Compatible if using Scorpius controller.
8. Runs on AC or DC systems.
9. Runs on 8.5-18V.
10. Uses Nordics nRF 52840 WLSCP chip.
11. Dual radio output. RF (using Scorpius protocols)  and BLE (Bluetooth low energy, ie phone connection app).
12. App featuring virtual dashboard and wireless updating and configuration set up pages.
13. 2 LED output channels, each channel with an onboard mounted 3mm dia. IR LED for DPR hatch use (Scalextric and Pioneer cars only) and another LED mounted on 75mm flylead. When configured as car decoder one channel represents Carrera and the second channel represents Scalextric Sport Digital.                                                  When configured as a lane changer the decoder becomes a Scorpius Lane Brain lane changer controller.
14. 2 Photo transistor input channels, each channel with onboard mounted 3mm dia. photo transistor (sensor) for DPR hatch use (Scalextric and Pioneer cars only) and another photo transistor mounted on 75mm flylead. When configured as car decoder one channel represents Carrera and the second channel represents Scalextric Sport Digital. 
    When configured as a lane changer you can choose either Carrera or Scalextric Sport Digital.
15. Powerful 10A motor drive.
16. Powerful 8.8A brake drive.
17. Solenoid driver for SCX 3A.
18. Headlights, high beam, low beam, on/off, controllable from Scorpius controller. Clear 3mm LEDs.
19. Tail lights/brake lights. Red 3mm dia. LEDs.
20. Back EMF detection for traction control and future diagnostic programs.
21. Accelerometer with gyro for use in a proposed ghost car project and front to rear collision detection.
22. Hall sensor to sense motor revolutions (tachometer).
23. SCX plunger solenoid driver, 3A.
24. JST plug connection for power in/out, lights and hall sensor.
25. Custom DPR hatch available to suit Scalextric and Pioneer cars.
26. Programmable race line for Scorpius, Scalextric Sport Digital and Carrera digital systems if using Scorpius lane changer electronics.

Rick

 

Edited July 12, 2021 by aussieslotter

[ade]

Cool stuff Rick, way way above hobbyist Arduino stuff, keep up the good work.. 

And of course the chip won't require new frackware every three weeks. 

 

[aussieslotter]

.....Are you saying you need to do 4 years of Uni, consult, lecture and have a lab in Japan to make a light connection board and maybe upgrade a resistor or say cut a certain colour wire Ade? 

[aussieslotter]

Oh wait the wire was someone else’s idea.

[ade]

No niche questions Rick lol... It causes bumping up.. 

[aussieslotter]

So how small can we make this decoder.

Previously we had it at 26x13, then revised it and added an extra photo transistor circuit, a couple of zener diodes, a solenoid driver circuit and a few other components and got it kept it at an amazing 26x13.

Just had an email from John. He may be able to get it down to 25, 24 or perhaps even 23mm in length. Or 299 sqmm 

So I wonder what John can achieve?

 

[aussieslotter]

So how’s 22.00x13.30mm?

That’s just 292.6sq.mm!

How does the worlds most functional decoder (by a factor of 5 at least) also be the second smallest?

The Scorpius Nano Decoder is the smallest of them all at just 47sq.mm. However it doesn’t have any fancy hardware. 

This  decoder acts as a car decoder for 5 brands,  as a lane changer decoder for 6 brands, as a lapcounter for 5 brands, (Using our own Scorpius Race Management System), as an anti collision device for 5 brands, and finally as a location detector for 5 brands. Don’t forget also it has built in full function lights.

So 21 products all up in one that can change identity in 30 seconds flat using our app off the phone. And just 292.6sq.mm. 

Scorpius.... industry development leaders since 2007.

Pictures showing both sides of the latest Scorpius MPD just 22.00x13.30mm.

 

Edited July 17, 2021 by aussieslotter
Spelling

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

     Ok so hardware design took 3 man days spread over the last few weeks. A lot of that was spent researching materials, replacements for parts not available due to world shortage on some important lines  and availability of the entire BOM.

Monday we start the production files and design a new programming jig pcb (only way to go) that will accurately guide the 3 pins exactly to their target +or -0.1mm. The jig must be robust and professionally built as it will be sent to the factory in Taiwan for use eventually on the first production run.

I think I will order 20 maybe 30 of these beauties. These unfortunately will have to be programmed and wires/LEDs/PTs soldered all by hand.

Next I’ll start integrating our own app rather then the Nordic app for upgrading .That should be fun. Luckily it is something we have had completed successfully in another wireless project I’m involved with. So it’s well tested and works flawlessly. 
 

Rick

 

 

[aussieslotter]

We have used 41 of the available 73 pins on the 52840 WLSCP chip! For a slot car decoder?

And as far as wire to pcb in/out pins on the new decoder we have an 26 pins all up! In fact around the perimeter there is maybe room for 1 more pin only. We have really maxed out everything.

So let’s see:

2 pins Power in 

2 pins Motor Drive

2 pins Aux Motor Drive

1 pin Antenna

3 pins Hall Sensor

2 pins Carrera on board LED

2 pins Carrera LED on flylead

2 pins Scalextric Sports Digital onboard LED

2 pins Scalextric Sport Digital on Flylead

2 pins Onboard Photo Sensor (Scorpius lane change)

2 pins Photo Sensor on flylead (Scorpius lane change)

2 pins Headlights

2 pins Tailights

That’s around 38 solder points!

 

Edited July 19, 2021 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys

Some pics showing more detail.

Red is side A. Blue is side B.

Edited July 21, 2021 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

 

Scorpius latest skill set is miniaturisation. It’s been a fun challenge, very enjoyable and satisfying. Developing state of the art designs is not cheap. It also devours time and effort. But it pays off. Now more than ever since we are developing the MPD.

Here are 3 miniaturisation projects we did in recent times. 

Pictures below:

1. Wireless Disc Decoder  project for Scalextric systems. On hold while we complete the MPD. Design complete. 

2. Scorpius Wireless Nano Decoder wiyh world record dimensions of 9.4x5.0mm or 47.00 sq.mm. To give you an idea the worlds previously smallest chip ever manufactured was 325 sq.mm being the Scalextric F1 decoder. The Nano Decoder is 1/7 the size with triple the functionality. Project completed with all firmware completed and tested and programming jig manufacturered.

3. Scorpius Wireless F1 chip 12x8mm with beefed up motor and brake drive circuits. Still under 100 sq.mm and 

These important projects have just raised the stakes and given us a serious head start on the latest MPD.

The new MPD is just 292.60 sq.mm.

It has also given us new bootloading and programming experience with the newer Nordic development platforms.

In our arsenal of chips specified in designs, prototypes or manufactured  include so far:

24L01

51810

52811

52832

52832 WLSCP

52840 WLSCP

53 series is yet another development platform again and would require much effort to learn it. 

 

Edited July 23, 2021 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

     Once the decoder is manufactured it’s time for anything hand soldered. In this case it will be 2 LEDs, one phototransistor directly onboard and then various hardware attached to multiple wires.

Heres a sneak at progress so far on a diagram. It’s only for the car decoder so far not the Lane Brain for 4 brands.
Once the diagram is completed a spread sheet is compiled on the parts for each sub assembly. The idea is to keep costs down that lights and hall sensor are sold additionally. Why pay for something you’re going to cut off and put in storage?

The other idea is in the web shop you will be able to customise the decoder any way you want. If you’re purely a Carrera user and SCX driver wires, SSD LED, and Scorpius photo sensor don’t interest you we can remove those. Want lights? We can add those. Want the tacho option we can include the hall sensor. Want the onboard Carrera LED or the fly lead LED? Or both? You choose. 

Anyway I have been working spec for the various wiring and accessory bits and pieces.

Included in the spec hardware variations and associated wiring, AWG, length, conductor material, insulation material, strand dia, number of strands, strip insulation length, tinned or not tinned ends, single wires or pairs? choice of IR LEDS, clear LEDs headlights, red LEDs taillights, photo transistor, hall sensor, wired pair or single, colours, heat shrink, diameter, material type, colour, length, split cores to accomodate?, shrink or not shrink?, part numbers for each, check availability, etc. That’s for each of the sub assemblies x 15. 
So now to complete  the drawings and then the spread sheet.

 

Edited July 24, 2021 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

......meanwhile back in the Lab....

 

[ade]

On 7/24/2021 at 11:11 AM, aussieslotter said:

......meanwhile back in the Lab....

 

Is that the version that gets powered analouge but you claim its digital and just speed the footage up to blur mode. LOL. 

[aussieslotter]

I must admit one component on a 5mm thick pcb with expert soldering is not only astounding it’s proof of innovation, years of hands on experience and honesty. And only 4 years into it. Quick too.

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

Accelerometers.

Scorpius was the first company to specify an accelerometer for the digital slot car industry.

We will be the first to market also 

The MXC6655A  3 axis accelerometer is only 2x2x1mm and is around $1.25AUD. a much better proposition than a 9 axis gyro which is overkill, 4 times the cost and OBSOLETE. 

For slot cars a 3 axis accelerometer will perfect. Small, cheap and from MIMSIC who lead the industry.

Uses:

1: Ghost car. Here the the X axis is monitored and speed reduced as G forces increase. Calibration may be required. Early days.

2: Side impact collision detection for lane changers for use in applying penalties using the Y axis data in the Scorpius Race Management System (SRMS). 

3: Front to rear collision detection for use in applying penalties using Y axis data in the SRMS.

4. Impact data collected and used in Damage Simulation for SRMS. Using an addition of all 3 axis. Once you reach a certain level of damage you must pit or retire from the race.

All this will be done in car, processed by the powerful nRF52840 CKAA-R chip.

And data will be fed into the processor at 100 times per second. The same data will be sent wirelessly to SRMS for  use in applying penalties etc.

As you can see this is very advanced for the current tech level in the industry.

 

Edited July 31, 2021 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

By the way I mentioned the accelerometer idea on SFI back in 2007.

Gee that only took 14 years to implement.

 

[Shaynus]

That's still quicker than I get somethings done around the house!

Edited July 31, 2021 by Shaynus