Wireless Ssd Controller Open Source

[Drifter]

Here's a quick demo (proof of concept) of a project I've started working on. As the title implies I've converted a wired SSD controller to wireless using a few off the shelf parts and a bit of programming. The video shows it in operation and also with the car inverted to display the changing Led for lane change, I hope that part is visible.

 

 

 

Next part is to continue developing the App to allow editing of settings in the controller, i.e throttle curves, max throttle, time out, code upload etc, This will require a Bluetooth module .

Also I'm waiting on some iPhone vibration motors from ebay for haptic feedback.

[ZeGas]

Good start, look forward to the seeing the advancement.

 

Will be interesting to see if there is any lag with acceleration and braking.

[Drifter]

Seems very responsive on the bench, no noticeable lag at all.

[Drifter]

I've had a bit of time lately to have another look at this project, and so managed to replace the linear pot (Wiper) with a hall sensor and magnet for maintenance free operation. Works pretty well.:-)

 

[aussieslotter]

Satsfying aint it to make your own kit. Can you tell us what the blue pcb is?

 

Rick

[Drifter]

Yes its good to get something to do want you want it to do :-)

Then, any feature you want can be incorporated.

 

PCB is Pro mini Atmega 328 (Arduino Dev board)

Edited January 6, 2019 by Drifter

[GRUNZ]

Nice one! How does it connect to the APB?

[Drifter]

Thanks Grunz,

it connects wirelessly to a wireless receiver that plugs in to the APB. Hope that makes sense.

[GRUNZ]

So you have designed your own receiver and not using similar ones like slot car solution (http://www.slotcarsolutions.com/).

If you could implement the customisation of the controller parameters (throttle profile, min starting speed, max speed, etc.) live, meaning that with the app running on the smartphone one can tweak these parameters without the needs to upgrade the code in the controller then you will have a great solution. The important thing is to make sure that the communication is two ways: then the app connects to the controller the actual parameters loaded in the controller should be visible in the app interface.

[Drifter]

Yes I've built my own Rx.

I agree with all the points you raise. One of the advantages of using an app is storage of settings in a mini data base

such that you could create a profile for each car at each circuit and lane (for analog).

 

I managed to get side-tracked and installed a 128 x 64 Oled dispaly in a Parma controller, inc. hall sensor and rumble motor and wireless module.

Regarding brake, throt settings etc., a rotary encoder (think Brake knob/dial) changes the values and has a press in "switch/button" feature to cycle through the menu. So you can change and see the throttle curve, brake ,rumble, min-max throt etc. all on the fly, on the controller :-). So totally independent of any other device. (phone, computer etc.)

It also displays lap-times for wireless cars.

Very handy for testing new firmware, just place the car on the track and go. No need boot up a PC and RMS etc.

[GRUNZ]

So if I get you correctly, on the controller you have rotary encoder that is like a brake knob on an analog controller. However, instead of having one for each setting, you have a switch button to cycle through the different option.

The app will be only used for storing specific settings for cars/lanes/circuit.

On a particular night, on a given circuit X, with a car Y and on lane Z you load the required settings on the controller and race. When you change lane, you change the settings for the next lane.

If during racing the condition of the track changes from when you have set the profile on the app, you simply dial in with the rotary encoder the new settings ideal to the new situation.

If you want to save these new setting you store them back in the app.

 

I really like the rotary encoder but how can you see at a glance which settings you have on your controller (eg, sensitivity, brakes, start, etc.)? Do you use a small LCD on the controller? Or read through the app?

[chris99]

Brilliant idea to use the Hall sensor to get round one of the weak points of the Scaley controller and the screen is also a big plus.

 

Probably a lot of work, but maybe a nice little project could be to adapt it to work with ARC Pro using the built-in receiver

 

Cheers,

Chris

[Drifter]

I really like the rotary encoder but how can you see at a glance which settings you have on your controller (eg, sensitivity, brakes, start, etc.)? Do you use a small LCD on the controller? Or read through the app?

 

There is a home screen which shows all the key settings at a glance. Obviously the throt curve graph is represented by just a number and not a graph on the home screen. The trade off though is fitting all that info in a smallish screen means the text becomes very small. Apart from the home screen, as the menu is cycled through the screen shows one value at a time so the text can be much bigger.

 

The info could be read from the App but of course this may not be practical whilst driving flat out. Maybe a co driver could convey the info or maybe txt to speach? I am still working on what functionality is best to include in the app.

 

To pretty much all of your prior questions the answer is yes.

[Drifter]

Brilliant idea to use the Hall sensor to get round one of the weak points of the Scaley controller and the screen is also a big plus.

 

Probably a lot of work, but maybe a nice little project could be to adapt it to work with ARC Pro using the built-in receiver

 

Cheers,

Chris

 

Thanks Chris,

It could be easily adapted to Arc Pro throttles, however the firmware for the throttle would need a rewrite. Maybe Hornby will consider adapting this idea for future production runs?

To allow a third party controller to work with Arc Pro the comms protocol would be needed, but from that point on it would be very do-able.

The non wireless Arc system could benefit though.

[aussieslotter]

Any updates on this? 

Edited January 9, 2023 by aussieslotter