Hot Wheels Finish Line and Race Timer

A very accurate Arduino based Die-cast (Hot Wheels) finish line judge and race timer (ET) using IR LED emitters and receivers.

Apr 24, 2020

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13483 views

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8 respects

Components and supplies

Through Hole Resistor, 30 ohm

Arduino Nano R3

Resistor 10k ohm

Through Hole Resistor, 390 ohm

\t Gikfun IR LED's

RGB LCD Shield Kit, 16x2 Character Display

5 mm LED: Green

Tools and machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Project description

Code

Hot Wheels Race Timer

arduino

1//By Mike Freda - April 2020
2//Diecast electronic finish line
3//Time   when start gate is open.
4//First car to break IR beam is the lane winner
5//Displays   Elapsed time and winner on a 16x2 LCD.
6//times resets when start gate is closed.
7//Calculated   time is in microseconds and gets converted to Seconds when displayed. Races can   be that close.
8//Uses Gikfun 5mm 940nm IR LED's emitters and receivers: EK8443
9
10#include   <I2CIO.h>
11#include <FastIO.h>
12#include <LCD.h>
13#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
14#include   <Wire.h>
15#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
16
17LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,2,1,0,4,5,6,7,3,POSITIVE);   // double check your LCD address first using: i2C_scanner
18
19int analogOutPin1   = A1; // finish line beam lane 1 on A1 PIN
20int analogOutPin2 = A2; // finish   line beam lane 2 on A2 PIN
21
22const int ledPin1 = 11; //lane 1 winning LED on   D11 PIN
23const int ledPin2 = 12; //Lane 2 winning LED in D12 PIN
24int StartSwitch   = 2;
25
26int sensorValueFinish1 = 0; 
27int sensorValueFinish2 = 0;
28int StartState   = 0;
29
30int sensorThresh = 500; //Sets the trigger sensing threshold of the   IR receivers. ~1000 = high
31
32unsigned long timeLane1; //finish line lane 1
33unsigned   long timeLane2; //finish line lane 2 
34float StartTime = 0;
35float ET1 = 0;
36float   ET2 = 0;
37
38void setup() 
39{
40
41  Serial.begin(9600);
42  pinMode(StartSwitch,   INPUT);
43  pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT); //lane 1
44  pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT); //lane   2
45  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);
46  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
47  delay(1000);
48   digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);
49  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
50  StartTime =   0;
51    
52      lcd.begin(16,2);
53      lcd.setCursor(0,0);
54      lcd.print("HotWheelsTimerV2");     
55      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
56      lcd.print("By: Mike Freda"); 
57      delay(2000);
58       lcd.setCursor(0,1);
59      lcd.print("Ready to race...");   
60}
61
62void   loop() 
63{
64  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch); //Check state of start   gate. 0 = closed & 1 = open.
65  if(StartState == 0)
66  {
67     StartTime =   0;
68     ET1 = 0;
69     ET2 = 0;
70  }
71  
72  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch);   //if start gate is trigger, race started. 1 = open.
73  if(StartState == 1 && StartTime   == 0)
74  {
75    StartTime = micros(); //use micro seconds since the races can   be that close!
76  }
77  
78  //read the analog in value of IR's:
79  sensorValueFinish1   = analogRead(analogOutPin1);
80  sensorValueFinish2 = analogRead(analogOutPin2);
81
82    // remove "//" from below for Debugging and checking actual sensor values.   
83   //             You may have to adjust sensorThresh value for better accuracy.
84    //             The sensors should read around 900-1000 then go "low" (less   than 400) when a car passes through the beam.
85   //Serial.println(StartTime);
86   // Serial.println(StartState);
87  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish1 = " );
88   // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish1);
89  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish2 =   " );
90  // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish2);
91  // delay(50);
92
93
94//   wait/check for the Finish Line sensors to be triggered
95  
96  if(sensorValueFinish1   < sensorThresh && ET1 == 0)
97  {
98    timeLane1 = micros();
99    ET1 = timeLane1   - StartTime;
100    ET1 = ET1 / 1000000;
101  }
102
103 if(sensorValueFinish2 <   sensorThresh && ET2 == 0)
104  {
105    timeLane2 = micros();
106    ET2 = timeLane2   - StartTime;
107    ET2 = ET2 / 1000000;
108  }
109
110
111if (ET1 < ET2 && ET1   != 0 && ET2 != 0)// Set winner Lane 1, turn on winner LED
112   {
113   digitalWrite(ledPin1,   HIGH);
114   }
115
116 if(ET1 > ET2 && ET2 != 0 && ET1 != 0) // Set winner Lane   2, turn on winner LED
117   {
118   digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
119   }
120
121   if(ET1 > 0 && ET2 > 0) // Race is over, display times for both lanes. // both cars   have to finish to display times.
122  {
123    lcd.clear();
124    lcd.setCursor(0,0);
125     lcd.print("L1" );
126    lcd.setCursor(4,0);
127    lcd.print("ET:");
128     lcd.setCursor(6,0);
129    lcd.print(ET1, 4);
130    if (digitalRead(ledPin1)   == HIGH)
131       {
132         lcd.setCursor(12,0);
133         lcd.print("*WIN*");
134        }
135    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
136    lcd.print("L2" );
137    lcd.setCursor(4,1);
138     lcd.print("ET:");
139    lcd.setCursor(6,1);
140    lcd.print(ET2, 4);
141       if (digitalRead(ledPin2) == HIGH)
142       {
143         lcd.setCursor(12,1);
144          lcd.print("*WIN*");
145       }
146    delay(8000);
147    digitalWrite(ledPin1,   LOW); //turn off lane winner LED
148    digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW); //turn off lane   winner LED
149    timeLane1= 0; 
150    timeLane2= 0; 
151    StartTime = 0;
152     ET1 = 0;
153    ET2 = 0;
154  }
155
156}

//By Mike Freda - April 2020
//Diecast electronic finish line
//Time   when start gate is open.
//First car to break IR beam is the lane winner
//Displays   Elapsed time and winner on a 16x2 LCD.
//times resets when start gate is closed.
//Calculated   time is in microseconds and gets converted to Seconds when displayed. Races can   be that close.
//Uses Gikfun 5mm 940nm IR LED's emitters and receivers: EK8443

#include   <I2CIO.h>
#include <FastIO.h>
#include <LCD.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include   <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,2,1,0,4,5,6,7,3,POSITIVE);   // double check your LCD address first using: i2C_scanner

int analogOutPin1   = A1; // finish line beam lane 1 on A1 PIN
int analogOutPin2 = A2; // finish   line beam lane 2 on A2 PIN

const int ledPin1 = 11; //lane 1 winning LED on   D11 PIN
const int ledPin2 = 12; //Lane 2 winning LED in D12 PIN
int StartSwitch   = 2;

int sensorValueFinish1 = 0; 
int sensorValueFinish2 = 0;
int StartState   = 0;

int sensorThresh = 500; //Sets the trigger sensing threshold of the   IR receivers. ~1000 = high

unsigned long timeLane1; //finish line lane 1
unsigned   long timeLane2; //finish line lane 2 
float StartTime = 0;
float ET1 = 0;
float   ET2 = 0;

void setup() 
{

  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(StartSwitch,   INPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT); //lane 1
  pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT); //lane   2
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  delay(1000);
   digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  StartTime =   0;
    
      lcd.begin(16,2);
      lcd.setCursor(0,0);
      lcd.print("HotWheelsTimerV2");     
      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
      lcd.print("By: Mike Freda"); 
      delay(2000);
       lcd.setCursor(0,1);
      lcd.print("Ready to race...");   
}

void   loop() 
{
  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch); //Check state of start   gate. 0 = closed & 1 = open.
  if(StartState == 0)
  {
     StartTime =   0;
     ET1 = 0;
     ET2 = 0;
  }
  
  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch);   //if start gate is trigger, race started. 1 = open.
  if(StartState == 1 && StartTime   == 0)
  {
    StartTime = micros(); //use micro seconds since the races can   be that close!
  }
  
  //read the analog in value of IR's:
  sensorValueFinish1   = analogRead(analogOutPin1);
  sensorValueFinish2 = analogRead(analogOutPin2);

    // remove "//" from below for Debugging and checking actual sensor values.   
   //             You may have to adjust sensorThresh value for better accuracy.
    //             The sensors should read around 900-1000 then go "low" (less   than 400) when a car passes through the beam.
   //Serial.println(StartTime);
   // Serial.println(StartState);
  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish1 = " );
   // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish1);
  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish2 =   " );
  // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish2);
  // delay(50);


//   wait/check for the Finish Line sensors to be triggered
  
  if(sensorValueFinish1   < sensorThresh && ET1 == 0)
  {
    timeLane1 = micros();
    ET1 = timeLane1   - StartTime;
    ET1 = ET1 / 1000000;
  }

 if(sensorValueFinish2 <   sensorThresh && ET2 == 0)
  {
    timeLane2 = micros();
    ET2 = timeLane2   - StartTime;
    ET2 = ET2 / 1000000;
  }


if (ET1 < ET2 && ET1   != 0 && ET2 != 0)// Set winner Lane 1, turn on winner LED
   {
   digitalWrite(ledPin1,   HIGH);
   }

 if(ET1 > ET2 && ET2 != 0 && ET1 != 0) // Set winner Lane   2, turn on winner LED
   {
   digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
   }

   if(ET1 > 0 && ET2 > 0) // Race is over, display times for both lanes. // both cars   have to finish to display times.
  {
    lcd.clear();
    lcd.setCursor(0,0);
     lcd.print("L1" );
    lcd.setCursor(4,0);
    lcd.print("ET:");
     lcd.setCursor(6,0);
    lcd.print(ET1, 4);
    if (digitalRead(ledPin1)   == HIGH)
       {
         lcd.setCursor(12,0);
         lcd.print("*WIN*");
        }
    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
    lcd.print("L2" );
    lcd.setCursor(4,1);
     lcd.print("ET:");
    lcd.setCursor(6,1);
    lcd.print(ET2, 4);
       if (digitalRead(ledPin2) == HIGH)
       {
         lcd.setCursor(12,1);
          lcd.print("*WIN*");
       }
    delay(8000);
    digitalWrite(ledPin1,   LOW); //turn off lane winner LED
    digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW); //turn off lane   winner LED
    timeLane1= 0; 
    timeLane2= 0; 
    StartTime = 0;
     ET1 = 0;
    ET2 = 0;
  }

}

Hot Wheels Race Timer

arduino

1//By Mike Freda - April 2020
2//Diecast electronic finish line
3//Time  when start gate is open.
4//First car to break IR beam is the lane winner
5//Displays  Elapsed time and winner on a 16x2 LCD.
6//times resets when start gate is closed.
7//Calculated  time is in microseconds and gets converted to Seconds when displayed. Races can  be that close.
8//Uses Gikfun 5mm 940nm IR LED's emitters and receivers: EK8443
9
10#include  <I2CIO.h>
11#include <FastIO.h>
12#include <LCD.h>
13#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
14#include  <Wire.h>
15#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
16
17LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,2,1,0,4,5,6,7,3,POSITIVE);  // double check your LCD address first using: i2C_scanner
18
19int analogOutPin1  = A1; // finish line beam lane 1 on A1 PIN
20int analogOutPin2 = A2; // finish  line beam lane 2 on A2 PIN
21
22const int ledPin1 = 11; //lane 1 winning LED on  D11 PIN
23const int ledPin2 = 12; //Lane 2 winning LED in D12 PIN
24int StartSwitch  = 2;
25
26int sensorValueFinish1 = 0; 
27int sensorValueFinish2 = 0;
28int StartState  = 0;
29
30int sensorThresh = 500; //Sets the trigger sensing threshold of the  IR receivers. ~1000 = high
31
32unsigned long timeLane1; //finish line lane 1
33unsigned  long timeLane2; //finish line lane 2 
34float StartTime = 0;
35float ET1 = 0;
36float  ET2 = 0;
37
38void setup() 
39{
40
41  Serial.begin(9600);
42  pinMode(StartSwitch,  INPUT);
43  pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT); //lane 1
44  pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT); //lane  2
45  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);
46  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
47  delay(1000);
48  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);
49  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
50  StartTime =  0;
51    
52      lcd.begin(16,2);
53      lcd.setCursor(0,0);
54      lcd.print("HotWheelsTimerV2");    
55      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
56      lcd.print("By: Mike Freda"); 
57      delay(2000);
58      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
59      lcd.print("Ready to race...");   
60}
61
62void  loop() 
63{
64  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch); //Check state of start  gate. 0 = closed & 1 = open.
65  if(StartState == 0)
66  {
67     StartTime =  0;
68     ET1 = 0;
69     ET2 = 0;
70  }
71  
72  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch);  //if start gate is trigger, race started. 1 = open.
73  if(StartState == 1 && StartTime  == 0)
74  {
75    StartTime = micros(); //use micro seconds since the races can  be that close!
76  }
77  
78  //read the analog in value of IR's:
79  sensorValueFinish1  = analogRead(analogOutPin1);
80  sensorValueFinish2 = analogRead(analogOutPin2);
81
82   // remove "//" from below for Debugging and checking actual sensor values.  
83   //             You may have to adjust sensorThresh value for better accuracy.
84   //             The sensors should read around 900-1000 then go "low" (less  than 400) when a car passes through the beam.
85   //Serial.println(StartTime);
86  // Serial.println(StartState);
87  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish1 = " );
88  // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish1);
89  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish2 =  " );
90  // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish2);
91  // delay(50);
92
93
94//  wait/check for the Finish Line sensors to be triggered
95  
96  if(sensorValueFinish1  < sensorThresh && ET1 == 0)
97  {
98    timeLane1 = micros();
99    ET1 = timeLane1  - StartTime;
100    ET1 = ET1 / 1000000;
101  }
102
103 if(sensorValueFinish2 <  sensorThresh && ET2 == 0)
104  {
105    timeLane2 = micros();
106    ET2 = timeLane2  - StartTime;
107    ET2 = ET2 / 1000000;
108  }
109
110
111if (ET1 < ET2 && ET1  != 0 && ET2 != 0)// Set winner Lane 1, turn on winner LED
112   {
113   digitalWrite(ledPin1,  HIGH);
114   }
115
116 if(ET1 > ET2 && ET2 != 0 && ET1 != 0) // Set winner Lane  2, turn on winner LED
117   {
118   digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
119   }
120
121  if(ET1 > 0 && ET2 > 0) // Race is over, display times for both lanes. // both cars  have to finish to display times.
122  {
123    lcd.clear();
124    lcd.setCursor(0,0);
125    lcd.print("L1" );
126    lcd.setCursor(4,0);
127    lcd.print("ET:");
128    lcd.setCursor(6,0);
129    lcd.print(ET1, 4);
130    if (digitalRead(ledPin1)  == HIGH)
131       {
132         lcd.setCursor(12,0);
133         lcd.print("*WIN*");
134       }
135    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
136    lcd.print("L2" );
137    lcd.setCursor(4,1);
138    lcd.print("ET:");
139    lcd.setCursor(6,1);
140    lcd.print(ET2, 4);
141      if (digitalRead(ledPin2) == HIGH)
142       {
143         lcd.setCursor(12,1);
144         lcd.print("*WIN*");
145       }
146    delay(8000);
147    digitalWrite(ledPin1,  LOW); //turn off lane winner LED
148    digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW); //turn off lane  winner LED
149    timeLane1= 0; 
150    timeLane2= 0; 
151    StartTime = 0;
152    ET1 = 0;
153    ET2 = 0;
154  }
155
156}

//By Mike Freda - April 2020
//Diecast electronic finish line
//Time  when start gate is open.
//First car to break IR beam is the lane winner
//Displays  Elapsed time and winner on a 16x2 LCD.
//times resets when start gate is closed.
//Calculated  time is in microseconds and gets converted to Seconds when displayed. Races can  be that close.
//Uses Gikfun 5mm 940nm IR LED's emitters and receivers: EK8443

#include  <I2CIO.h>
#include <FastIO.h>
#include <LCD.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include  <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27,2,1,0,4,5,6,7,3,POSITIVE);  // double check your LCD address first using: i2C_scanner

int analogOutPin1  = A1; // finish line beam lane 1 on A1 PIN
int analogOutPin2 = A2; // finish  line beam lane 2 on A2 PIN

const int ledPin1 = 11; //lane 1 winning LED on  D11 PIN
const int ledPin2 = 12; //Lane 2 winning LED in D12 PIN
int StartSwitch  = 2;

int sensorValueFinish1 = 0; 
int sensorValueFinish2 = 0;
int StartState  = 0;

int sensorThresh = 500; //Sets the trigger sensing threshold of the  IR receivers. ~1000 = high

unsigned long timeLane1; //finish line lane 1
unsigned  long timeLane2; //finish line lane 2 
float StartTime = 0;
float ET1 = 0;
float  ET2 = 0;

void setup() 
{

  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(StartSwitch,  INPUT);
  pinMode(ledPin1, OUTPUT); //lane 1
  pinMode(ledPin2, OUTPUT); //lane  2
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
  delay(1000);
  digitalWrite(ledPin1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW);
  StartTime =  0;
    
      lcd.begin(16,2);
      lcd.setCursor(0,0);
      lcd.print("HotWheelsTimerV2");    
      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
      lcd.print("By: Mike Freda"); 
      delay(2000);
      lcd.setCursor(0,1);
      lcd.print("Ready to race...");   
}

void  loop() 
{
  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch); //Check state of start  gate. 0 = closed & 1 = open.
  if(StartState == 0)
  {
     StartTime =  0;
     ET1 = 0;
     ET2 = 0;
  }
  
  StartState = digitalRead(StartSwitch);  //if start gate is trigger, race started. 1 = open.
  if(StartState == 1 && StartTime  == 0)
  {
    StartTime = micros(); //use micro seconds since the races can  be that close!
  }
  
  //read the analog in value of IR's:
  sensorValueFinish1  = analogRead(analogOutPin1);
  sensorValueFinish2 = analogRead(analogOutPin2);

   // remove "//" from below for Debugging and checking actual sensor values.  
   //             You may have to adjust sensorThresh value for better accuracy.
   //             The sensors should read around 900-1000 then go "low" (less  than 400) when a car passes through the beam.
   //Serial.println(StartTime);
  // Serial.println(StartState);
  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish1 = " );
  // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish1);
  // Serial.print("Sensor Finish2 =  " );
  // Serial.println(sensorValueFinish2);
  // delay(50);


//  wait/check for the Finish Line sensors to be triggered
  
  if(sensorValueFinish1  < sensorThresh && ET1 == 0)
  {
    timeLane1 = micros();
    ET1 = timeLane1  - StartTime;
    ET1 = ET1 / 1000000;
  }

 if(sensorValueFinish2 <  sensorThresh && ET2 == 0)
  {
    timeLane2 = micros();
    ET2 = timeLane2  - StartTime;
    ET2 = ET2 / 1000000;
  }


if (ET1 < ET2 && ET1  != 0 && ET2 != 0)// Set winner Lane 1, turn on winner LED
   {
   digitalWrite(ledPin1,  HIGH);
   }

 if(ET1 > ET2 && ET2 != 0 && ET1 != 0) // Set winner Lane  2, turn on winner LED
   {
   digitalWrite(ledPin2, HIGH);
   }

  if(ET1 > 0 && ET2 > 0) // Race is over, display times for both lanes. // both cars  have to finish to display times.
  {
    lcd.clear();
    lcd.setCursor(0,0);
    lcd.print("L1" );
    lcd.setCursor(4,0);
    lcd.print("ET:");
    lcd.setCursor(6,0);
    lcd.print(ET1, 4);
    if (digitalRead(ledPin1)  == HIGH)
       {
         lcd.setCursor(12,0);
         lcd.print("*WIN*");
       }
    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
    lcd.print("L2" );
    lcd.setCursor(4,1);
    lcd.print("ET:");
    lcd.setCursor(6,1);
    lcd.print(ET2, 4);
      if (digitalRead(ledPin2) == HIGH)
       {
         lcd.setCursor(12,1);
         lcd.print("*WIN*");
       }
    delay(8000);
    digitalWrite(ledPin1,  LOW); //turn off lane winner LED
    digitalWrite(ledPin2, LOW); //turn off lane  winner LED
    timeLane1= 0; 
    timeLane2= 0; 
    StartTime = 0;
    ET1 = 0;
    ET2 = 0;
  }

}

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