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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20762 views

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8 respects

Devices & Components

Arduino Nano

Through Hole Resistor, 30 ohm

Resistor 10k ohm

Through Hole Resistor, 390 ohm

\t Gikfun IR LED's

RGB LCD Shield Kit, 16x2 Character Display

5 mm LED: Green

Hardware & Tools

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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