Scorpius MPD multi purpose multi protocol decoder.

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

    I was sitting down one afternoon enjoying a cold Peroni or 3 when I was thinking how nice it would be to produce quality aftermarket products for multiple brands on the market. Everything you could think off. A basic car chip, a deluxe car chip, lane changer electronics, lap counter, location sensors, a powerbase dongle, for Scorpius, Carrera, Scalextric and SCX digital systems. Then I’m thinking wow that’s like 15 or 20 products to design, manufacture and stock. So I’m thinking that’s 7 years work and a heap of coin. Lots of minimums and one off charges. 
 

After another Peroni it occurred to me that what if one decoder could do 15-20 products?

It would be a Multi Protocol Decoder as well as a Multi Purpose Decoder. Either way the term MPD  seems to have stuck.
 

So what’s needed hardware wise to run this baby?

Power: AC/DC/Pulsed DC. A bridge rectifier is fitted to power Scalextric, Scorpius and Carrera  digital respectively.

After that we need sensors and LEDs for enabling car chip and lane changer for 3 brands. So two LED driver circuits and two photo transistor circuits are added. 
 

Next are lights. We need a tail/brake circuit with 2 red LEDS attached. Also another LED driver circuit with LEDs for headlights. These can be optional.

Next we need some goodies. How about a hall sensor that will detect motor revolutions. Bingo worlds first digital wireless slot car motor tacho. Optional. 

 

Next more goodies. How about an accelerometer and recording program that maps your G forces 100 times a second. Once you know the cars maximum G force before a deslot you could use it at every opportunity with 100 updates per second. All this hopefully will give the ultimate ghost car performance , especially for non magnet cars. Optional.

I lifted this from another forum to save time. It outlines how this one chip will develop into 15-20 products one at a time.

 

 

Hi Guys
Just an update. We decided to produce a grass roots Scorpius only chip first, named the Generation II Scorpius car decoder, which was released Nov 2022. This put the MPD project back a year. But here we are ready to proceed.

So we already have our hardware design complete, app connect and DFU (a way to update the car’s firmware using a phone or tablet) completed, RF bootloader is completed, all Scorpius protocols have been completed. 

Essentially what we right now have in terms of the MPD a functioning car decoder (Scorpius protocols) with hardware set up for every possible foreseeable requirement for the modern day slot enthusiast that will last a decade at least.

The beauty of this project is “products” can be added with just firmware development required. This can be done in modules at will and as budget allows.

So how will this be done and in what order?

A rough idea would be:

1. Scorpius deluxe car chip with lights.
Seeing the firmware would be easy to implement and the wires and LEDs will be standard let’s start with this. Controlled from the brake button on controller, on/off, low beam, hi beam and flash hi beam will be added. 

2. Scorpius Lane Brain.
As the MPD has two motor drives not one and two lots of LED drivers complete with wires and LEDS it would be good to get this to market asap. It will include 2 flipper drivers, 2 LED drivers, liven flipper, anti-collision PEARL, and ULTIMA. (The 2 latter are advanced driving systems that I won’t go into here).

3. Carrera and Scalextric Lane Brain. (Lane changer electronics)
Seeing the MPD can read pulsed DC signals off track and can also run on DC or AC and it has not one but two seperate photo transistor (sensor) circuits it would make sense to make a deluxe lane changer device for Carrera and Scalextric. Carrera involves reading track packets and cars LED while Scalextric requires reading the cars LED. We have actually built the scalextric lane change protocols back in 2008 for both car and lane changer and we had it working fine at high speeds so it’s a matter of digging out the files and using already tested protocols. 
Carrera won’t be so easy but still doable. The protocols are public knowledge but there are a few things hardware wise we will need to get right.

So what’s in it for both brands?

Let’s start with anti collision. Next we can liven the flippers or supply a trigger wire that will run an external relay to liven both entry and exit flippers to correct polarity as the car passes over. Next, we can have PEARL, an acronym for Programmable Electronically Activated Race Line. Here the chip remembers each drivers preference at each lane changer to as wether you wish to change lanes. If you combine this with anti collision you get a product we fall Ultima which will control polarity on entry and exit flippers as well.

As the unit is wireless it can report the cars location at each lane changer. From here race software can implement functions such as lap counting, pit lane and pit bay detection, false start detection and more. So you can have 100% track telemetry.

4. Carrera Car Decoder
A genuine fully compatible decoder with lights.

5. Scalextric Car Decoder
A genuine fully compatible decoder.

6. Tacho.
Seeing the MPD has a hall sensor let’s place it on the motor and count the revs. This will be a really cool function for checking motors.

7. Scorpius, Carrera, Scalextric and SCX lap counter.
This will include access to Scorpius Race Management program.

8. Dongle for Carrera CU and Scalextric C7042 using Scorpius controller.
The decoder includes a resistance circuit. By varying the simulated voltage determined by the throttle position and using I=V/R we can reproduce the Carrera throttle signal.
From here you now use your Scorpius controller. This opens up another set of possible advanced functions I call Nitrous.

9.Nitrous for Carrera and Scalextric C7042
A possibility is that you can run a 100% proprietary powerbase and race management method and implement extra functions without affecting the proprietary system.
Essentially the system is either Carrera or Scalextric with full Scorpius bolt ons, ie. upgraded car decoders and controller with the addition of a Scorpius dongle per port.

How it works: The system operates in the normal fashion except the Scorpius controller not only talks to the proprietary powerbase via the Scorpius resistance dongle it talks directly to car. This is gives 255 throttle steps instead of Carreras 12 and Scalextrics 64. It also gives 255 braking steps to Carreras 10 steps and Scalextric 0 steps.
Lights will now be available to Scalextric users controlled from the controller direct.


10. Accelerometer.
Accelerometer based functions like ghost cars. front/rear/left side/right side collision detection and telemetry can be implemented. Collision detection can be used for dishing out penalties and simulated damage function in the race software.

Rick

 

 

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Here’s the latest version with snap off tabs. The 4 tabs will allow fixing to a 3D printed hatch for Scalextric and Pioneer cars.

The board now also has a tiny LED used to indicate status for Lane Brain applications.

 

[aussieslotter]

Hi Everyone,
    Update on the biggest project in Scorpius history.…. the MPD multipurpose, multi brand decoder.

The hardware design has been tweaked yet again and I’m ordering 8 prototypes in August.
The Real Time Operating System has been implemented. This meant re-writing all firmware for this project from scratch.
The boot loader and DFU (update by phone) has been implemented. 

The accelerometer has been implemented. The chip now picks up G forces in X, Y and Z axis.

Lights including low/high beam, tail/brake lights firmware completed.

Lane Brain firmware completed.
Lane Brain parameter configuration
completed.
So we have a hell of a firmware done before we even receive the prototype!

Next stages are to implement Carrera, Scalextric and SCX firmware for their car decoders, lane changers (except SCX), lap counters, sector and pit detection.

Rick

[aussieslotter]

Latest version. Previous tabs interfering (just) with the surface mounted LEDs.

And a few last minute changes to LED circuits.

 

 

[aussieslotter]

Digital Plug Ready hatch design being designed.

This allows the new MPD chip to attach and become plug n play.

Our 4 pin socket won’t be on the PCB though. It will be on wires to allow Carrera plugs, Scalextric plug or just hardwired. 

 

 

[aussieslotter]

Interesting thought…

Slot car arduino. 
Seeing the MPD board has:

4 analogue outputs

2 analogue inputs 

1 digital output.

 24 wireless digital in/outputs 

2 motor drives 10A

2 motor/light drives 1A

2.4Ghz connectivity 

Bluetooth connectivity 

Hall sensor 

Accelerometer 

Battery powered.

Size 23.3x13.3x1.7mm

There is nothing digital or analogue this unit cannot do. Example it can be a wireless analogue lap counter. Actually it probably has more hardware than a typical Arduino.

So if you’re a tinkerer or a pro, if you know how to code all the hardware is ready to go. 

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

3D modelling on the DPR hatch to suit Scalextric and Pioneer cars final design.

Colour to be determined.

 

Rick 

 

[ade]

Look good in Satin Black .

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

   This is the MPD product list. Wiring diagrams of each to follow soon.

The products are expected to roll out over a 1-2 year period starting 2024.

MPD= Multi Protocol (Purpose) Decoder

Car Decoders:

1. Scorpius basic.

2. Scorpius with lights.

3. Scorpius with lights and tacho.

4. Scorpius basic to suit Hornby DPR plug n play.

5. Scorpius lights and tacho to suit Hornby DPR.

6. Scorpius basic to suit Carrera plugs.

7. Scorpius Lights and Tacho to suit Carrera plugs.

8. Carrera basic plug n play.

9. Carrera with lights plug n play

10. Carrera with lights and tacho plug n play.

11. Carrera basic to suit Hornby DPR plug and play.

12. Carrera lights and tacho to suit Hornby DPR. Plug and play.

13. SSD (Scalextric Sport Digital) basic.

14. SSD with lights.

15. SSD with lights and tacho.

16. SSD basic to suit Hornby DPR plug n play.

17.  SSD lights and tacho to suit Hornby DPR. Plug n play.

18. SSD basic to suit Carrera plugs. Plug n play.

19. SSD Lights and Tacho to suit Carrera plugs. Plug n play.

20. SCX basic*

21. SCX with lights*

22. SCX with lights and tacho*

* Scorpius Controller required.

Lane Changer Drivers:

23. Scorpius with anti collision.

24. Carrera with anti collision.

25. SSD with anti collision.

26. Oxigen with anti collision.

Timing Systems:

27. Scorpius 

27. Carrera 

27. SSD (Scalextric Sport Digital)

28. SCX

29. Oxigen IDs 1-6

System comes complete Scorpius Dongle and Scorpius Race Management System software.

 

Pit and Sector locators*:

30. Scorpius

31. Carrera

32. SSD (Scalextric Sport Digital)

33. SCX

*Scorpius Race Management System required.

Wireless relay:

34. Scorpius Wireless to Carrera wireless receiver interface module. (For upcoming Nitrous system for Carrera and later SSD).

Total 34 products. 
 

A bit about:

The products all use the same printed circuit board. The difference between each product is wiring and firmware.

A lot of the car decoder products are plug and play for ease of installation.

The product runs on 2.4GHz proprietary Scorpius protocols as well as Bluetooth capability for Phone app connectivity.

All car decoders (except SCX) and lane changer drivers are 100% native and genuinely compatible.

Timing and pit/sector detectors require our software. 

Choice of photo sensors and LEDs used to identify the cars ID are doubled up for  regular installs (flyleads) or the surface mounted sensor and LEDs for DPR users. If one is cut off or removed it does not affect others. Each LED or photo transistor is on its own output with its/their own driver(s). 

So as mentioned previously the firmware boasts the worlds only RTOS for slot cars, (Real time operating system) meaning it can do multiple tasks faster and more accurately. A typical benefit is it can process incoming  data on the photo sensor for Scorpius users while operating the LEDs for Carrera and Scalextric simultaneously with ease. This means it can run on multiple systems with no firmware changes required.

Project was initiated in 2020 and this is the third and last design. It is most likely the most complex and challenging slot car related project ever undertaken. 

Prototypes arrive soon with a lot of firmware pre-written.

Updates soon.

Full House photo shows all the possible hardware. Each product has 3 wires to 18 wires used. Not all wires are used at once!

Second photo is typically how it will be used. This example SCX with lights and hall sensor tacho.

Rick 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

   Today our 8 MPD decoders arrived ready to be programmed and tested.

[aussieslotter]

Hi Enthusiasts,

Firmware update…Carrera firmware started…..today we wrote the Carrera code.  Very exciting as this is a totally foreign territory for team Scorpius and should be a good challenge. Who knows it may even require hardware changes!

Theres been 2 changes to the Carrera code over the years but we will have to work these the hard way. After all it should be 100% compatible. No smoke or mirrors 

John receives a Carrera CU next week to reverse engineer it and check the codes. 
Lots of fun. 

The aim with Carrera is to offer users something never seen before, that is Nitrous by Scorpius. It will be the worlds first dual communications slot car system. Stay tuned.
 

 

[aussieslotter]

Not a great pic but the hatch for the DPR (Digital Plug Ready) system has been printed for the first time.

Edited October 27, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

  Today I’ve updated the spec so each set of LED drivers and Motor drivers can be configured as a different types. See diagram for details.

This pic is just one of dozens of products. And demonstrates the flexibility and functionality of the MPD.

This one is a universal light board that can anything for any brand using our Scorpius controller to activate.

Just select your weapon and plug in. Go to the PC and configure it. 
including brightnesS for both high and low beam. Here our new RTOS will absolutely kill it.

This helps too with neat wiring installs as you have choice.

We now have seperate headlight drivers so you could alternate flash them too. 

It includes a nice bonus optional hall sensor for tacho. It’s even DPR compatible.

Unused JST pugs/wires are simply cut off for a cleaner install.

Now if you have the Scorpius WAM for analogue use just install this for a heap of fun.
Another world first, a wireless light board that is actually a car decoder able to run in Scorpius, Carrera, Scalextric and SCX digital systems.

 

Rick
 

 

Edited November 1, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys, 

   Here’s the current product list planned for the MPD. This is required so the products can be put into categories for production and firmware sub groups.

Anything hardwired had been removed to make swap overs during competitions very quick.

So here we have a world first, a  customisable digital car decoder where you can pick your plug in hardware options connect in various locations around the edge of the board.

Example 1 Run headlights off front, rear or left side of board depending on your car decoder install orientation.

Example 2. Within the same port choose between:

Headlights 

Tail/brake lights.

Exhaust flame

Carrera ID 

Scalextric Sport Digital ID 

Flashing.

Now choose colours.

Double or tripper up if you choose.

How to? Just select your port, select your required lighting firmware and upload to the MPD using the dongle. 

Here are over 60 products in the pipe line.

 

The four colour groups represent the 4 manufacturing groups.

Pictures show each hardware set up.

Edited November 5, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,

    For the first time ever Scorpius Wireless has lights.

We have tail lights including brake lights and headlights including high beam which you can operate from the Scorpius Controller.

No seperate light board is required nor a connector pcb. This saves valuable space and weight, and keep installs neat.

Lights will be JST plugged to enable quick swap over of chips etc.

More to come…..  

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

This beauty arrived from Qld today….

 

[aussieslotter]

First install including full lights. 
 

 

[aussieslotter]

Today we are debugging back EMF detection (tacho), as well as Current Detection, use to trigger power off should the chip start to heat up.
Also testing back EMF protection which is designed to keep electrical spikes entering the chip at both ends, and lastly Ninco send/receive via braids function which we forgot to remove of the spec so there it is.

[aussieslotter]

The test stage.

First ever time run at Scorpius HQ.

https://youtube.com/shorts/NP2YF5HSr1Q?si=OkQYTn9fFuSml9On

Edited November 22, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Testing, testing and more testing.

https://youtube.com/shorts/1fabmwQFJAI?si=Dy1Hl6_Amsc0BJfM

Edited November 24, 2023 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter]

Progress updates:

A while ago on another forum an enthusiast posted pics of an OLED. 0.49” screen mounted in the windscreen of a 1/32 scale slot car used to identify the cars number. I must say it looked really cool. And now that we have decided to use back EMF detection for motor speed, eliminating wires and hardware I was thinking of ditching the hall sensor, adding one more pin and make use of the available space for an OLED plug n play screen.

I think it would make a nice touch. The screen simply displays the cars ID number between 1-24. 

The twin radio proposal although not confirmed is looking good. This will also be revolutionary and a bench mark in the industry. This involves adding a second BT chip in addition to the highly regarded nRF52832 chip. This will allow the car to talk to controller and phone simultaneously.
The possibilities are full on and very exciting. (….read Bluetooth headset for example) Let’s hope we proceed with this. 

Other news: Now that the DPR JST plug is not going directly on board but rather in short flylead it makes sense to convert to Scorpius wiring pattern which suits Carrera and other brands better.
The SMD capacitor not quite big enough to keep lights on properly over dead spots so a plug n play optional cap on flylead could be an option or we simply make the onboard SMD cap bigger but this will mean a slightly larger PCB which I’m happy to do if required. 
The revolutionary plug n play accessories addition for the MPD would allow such a plug in. You could even choose the cap rating.

Next, a slight hesitation in car acceleration sees a new patch (yet to be tested) issued in the last few hours. I look forward to that.

An incompatibility between new firmware and existing Scorpius lap count software being looked at.

Lane changing coming up on telemetry but not changing lanes. This is being looked at.

DPR hatch. 2 updated 3D printed prototypes arrive Thur. No doubt one final round of changes will be required. Just need to order stainless self tapper screws.

Debugging Carrera car protocols starts.

So a number of possible hardware changes coming. Remember this chip has to (and will) last a decade without hardware changes like the last chip. Once I make the bed I have lie in it hence the need to include all required hardware for foreseen functions and new functions coming in the next decade. This philosophy worked 100% on the last version.

Pic of 0.49” OLED screen.

[aussieslotter]

Simple Scorpius install in a Thunderslot Lola.

[aussieslotter]

 

MPD Specification/Functionality V2.0

Hi Lads,
   In the last few weeks around 10 hardware changes have decided on. This is because we doubled up in radio chips, deleted the hall sensor, added an OLED display driver just to name a few.
The OLED could be used to input or read data on the MPD. The OLED is 0.5x0.5” and is placed in the top of windscreen on side opposite to driver. Now use the Scorpius controller knob to quickly scroll through the following: Car number # or ID, fuel, brake pad and tyre levels, fuel burn rate, damage level, tyre type, max CG force, engine tacho, brake setting, throttle map.
Fair Dinkum can you imagine scrolling to tacho, lifting the rear wheels off the track and revving it to see your real time engine speed in the windscreen of your favourite car.

We also upped the 10uF SMD capacitor to 100, separated data outputs in each of the SSD drivers, also Carrera drivers. This creates another 2 light 5V channels. And the ability to be a 2 lane analogue lap counter as it was one data circuit previously. 
Length will still be under the original target of 26mm at just 25 currently 22.0mm

Size: 25.0x13.3x3.0
Layers:2
Sides used: 2
Radio/Microprocessor 1: Nordic nRF 52832 6x6mm.
Radio/Microprocessor 2: Nordic nRF 52805 WLCSP 2.48x2.46mm.
Data rates for both: 1MB/sec
Range: 50m
Motor Drive 1: 10A
Motor Drive 2: 10A
Brake Drive: 8.8A
Power in:8.5-18V AC/D
Scorpius photo sensor inputs: 2 (1 mounted on board, 1 on lead).
Carrera IR LED outputs: 2 (1 mounted on board, 1 on lead) *
Scalextric Sport Digital LED outputs: 2 (1 mounted on board, 1 on lead) *
*Can be configured as lights.
Light outputs**: Headlights and tail/brake lights.
**All lights and IR LED outputs can be configured as:
Tail/brake, headlight, flashing light, exhaust flame simulator.
Accelerometer: 3 axis
OLED display driver: Yes
Tacho: Via Back EMF detection
Main capacitor:100uF, surface mounted.
Motor PWM steps: 256
Brake PWM steps: 256
Compatibility: Scorpius, Carre/.kra, Scalextric Sport digital, Ninco*, SCX*
*Scorpius controller required.

Pic of some of our MPD loaded ThunderSlot Lola chassis test cars with 21.5k motor.

[ade]

PWM brakes and Throttle. Should make sims on rms more realistic,  nothing worse than relying on just the throttle position. 

We're not in the 90s anymore 

[aussieslotter]

Hi Guys,
V2.0 schematic designed today.

We upgraded the 3 pin hall connection to 4 pin so we can now accomodate BLDC (Brushless LC injection), OLED, Hall sensor, and COMMs (UART connection), this allows hardwired connections to piggy back to various hardware for future projects.

We also added 3x 47uF caps in place of the 10uF (so 14 times more capacity) and added 2 pins for a super cap for lights to stay on long time whilst crossing dead spots.  We also reconfigured the power in/out to suit Carrera. It will still be DPR (Scalextric) compatible.
LED drivers are upgraded to mosfet type rather than transistors. 
John was able to do all this and yet still maintain the same size of just 22.3x13.3mm! Unbelievable.

Next stage is to re-design the actual board. 
Stay tuned.