Scorpius-wireless Digital Slot Car Project.

[Johnno 8]

Looking very flash. How is the field testing coming along with them?

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Johnno,

Its still at design stage.

Firmware work starts Jan 15.

Prototypes being made during November.

 

Rick

[Johnno 8]

Should be an interesting end of year for you then with the field tests not to forget the busy peak period for everyone.

[aussieslotter 47]

Scorpius and Carrera digital compatibility.

 

Hi Guys.

Scorpius will be able to work with Carrera systems in 3 ways using 1, 2 or 3 pieces of Scorpius hardware.

 

1) Use Scorpius Generation II car decoder on an otherwise native Carrera system.

 

2) Use Scorpius Controller and Scorpius compatible Black Box wireless receiver.

 

3) Use both the Scorpius controller/receiver in conjunction with Scorpius Gen II car chip.

 

 

Notes. Item 3 is especially interesting in that the Black Box and Scorpius chip car BOTH receive the controllers instructions.

 

This enables full throttle and brake manipulation.

 

How does it work?

The car chip reads two lots of information simultaneously, from the Scorpius controller and Carrera black box data of the rails via braids.

Here the black box sends all lane change requests to Carrera native lane changers as per Carrera protocols.

However the throttle value is read and before being delivered to motor has it throttle curve and brake manipulated accordingly. Change throttle curves and brakes, both 256 steps, configurable 0-100% in 1% increments. Sensitivity and brakes are all adjustable on the fly.

 

Functions.

Brakes and sensitivity as mentioned.

Full tail lights, brake lights and high beam functionality including hardware embedded on Gen II car chip.

Other throttle functions such as speed limiter (pit lane), choke and kiddies mode.

 

So there you have it. Using Scorpius upgrade parts to enhance the Carrera experience.

 

Rick

 

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys,

Update. The wireless start gantry.

After some thought we ditched multiple 5mm colour LEDs for a nice Nexion 4.3” colour touchscreen. However we needed to make a new board to integrate the Nexion screen into the world of slot cars.

 

4 prototypes loaded with components turned up this week as wel as 4 Nexion colour touchscreens.

 

To make it Scorpius compatible a new board of identical size and bolt hile locations. The Nexion board is bolted above the new Scorpius board.

The Scorpius board will use the Nordic 52810 wireless chip.

It will talk to Race Coordinator and Scorpius RMS initially for both Analogue and Digital.

 

A variety of start light graphics will be stored onboard and selected by the Scorpius app. Choose BTCC, F1, Nascar and other light setups as required.

The touchscreen function will be used to start and pause races and initiate yellow flags as well as other functions.

 

Next stage is firmware development.

 

Rick

 

 

 

Edited November 24, 2019 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys.

The first prototypes have arrived.

Smallest chip of its type at just 349 sq.mm and just 1.7mm thick.

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys,

LEDS and photodiodes, head and tail lights, hall sensor, JST plug (Hornby SSD DPR compatible) and antenna soldered on.

Next stage firmware......

User simply cuts off what is not required.

First pic showing the underside where the DPR track comm LEDs and photodiode are plug and play should the brand have DPR cars, ie Hornby and Pioneer.

Second pic showing top side.

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

 

Edited December 16, 2019 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys,

I just fitted a new Gen II chip to a ThunderSlot Lola.

Lots of fun

Here Ive only used Scorpius photodiode on lead, power wires and motor wires for a Scorpius system.

 

Shot below shows chip just 1.7mm thick!

No more leg amputations on drivers!

 

 

 

 

[ade 1]

Hi

I can C from the pics that this is a great thought out piece of hardware, looking forward to C the firmware in place so testing can begin...

[aussieslotter 47]

New track build.

Ive removed 7 track modules from my Grand Aurora track and am in process of making a new piece to reconfigure the track w to 9.2x4.2m, now 33m or 100’.

7m straight.

Analogue/wireless digital track

12 lane changers on track and 9 in pits.

8 car pit bay, one safety car bay.

 

Previous bits CNC machined but as this is only one module it will be just as quick to hand route it.

Track drawn on computer and C and Y coordinates transferred to MDF then I used 1/2”x1/2” hardwood tacked at 200 mm centres to route off.

Router bit was custom made in my shed using a drill, an old 1/8” drill bit and some epoxy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 28, 2019 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter 47]

More progress.

Seal MDF with 2 coats of Dulux water based sealer.

Then 2 coats Dulux semi gloss oil based enamel.

Thinned and sprayed. Sand between coats.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Braid by Mr Slotcar.

Colour coded lane colours in slot not on track.

Next stage fitting flipper assemblies and track wiring and Lane Brain.

 

Rick

Edited December 28, 2019 by aussieslotter

[munter 153]

Oil based enamel is good

[aussieslotter 47]

So I like to route the wires into easily identifiable channels typically 4 mm deep. A pocket for the Lane Brain electronics is also routed.

Underside is sealed, sanded and 2 top coats of Dulux full gloss oil based enamel.

 

 

 

 

Rick

 

 

 

[aussieslotter 47]

Edited January 2, 2020 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter 47]

Some more progress. Installing flipper assemblies, flipper housings, track joiners and soldering wiring on the assemblies ie relay to liven flipper and solenoid driver wires.

Bench tested before being fitted into track, Some adjustments had to be made.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 6, 2020 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter 47]

DPR hatch for Hornby and Pioneer cars arrived today. Here’s what it looks like.

Now it’s plug and play Scorpius Wireless generation II car chip straight in no soldering in under a minute.

This car will now run on Scorpius, Scalextric digital and Carrera digital. It is also Oxigen hardware compatible.

 

This is the most powerful, compatible, functional and flexible digital slot car decoder ever prototyped.

 

Rick

 

 

 

BBC

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys,

Here's an updated list of Scorpius Gen II car decoder goodies. No doubt a lot of people will be happy  and about 5 people extremely unhappy.

So here goes;

 

1/. Smallest car decoder of its type just 26x13 or 338sq mm.

2/. Full light set with configurable settings including brightness, with wiring and LEDs connected and ready to install thus saving installation space and cost dramatically. World first

3/. Compatible to: Scorpius, SSD, Carrera, SCX Advance, Oxigen, Ninco. World first.

4/. Analogue compatible if using Scorpius controller and WAM.

5/. 5A Mosfet rating for robustness and reliability. World first

6/. Double sided to reduce size.

7/. DPR Compatible

8/. DPR hatch available.

9/. JST plugs on: Power in, motor power out, lights front and rear, hall sensor for ease of install/removal.

10/.Direct DC, now bypass bridge rectifier if ever required.

11/.Improved circuit protection on power in and power out (motor).

12/.Bluetooth/app compatible.

13/.Auto detect. Place car on rails and car decoder will automatically detect which system it is on and change protocols and track comms hardware use automatically. World first.

14/.Back EMF detection for use in future functions. World first.

15/.Hall sensor for use with Oxigen or tacho. World first.

16/.Accelerometer for use with impact front, side, rear collision detection and the ultimate ghost car. World first.

17/.PEARL. programmable electronically activated race line. World first 2012

18/.Ability to swap car from RF to BT in seconds using accelerometer. Just tap on car 5 times whilst stationary. World first.

19/.Current sensing for future functions. World first.

20/.Ultima. PEARL in conjunction with Anti Collision. World first 2014.

21/.Heat sensor for circuit protection. World first.

22/.Track comm hardware ie sensors and LEDs are on the car decoder itself for DPR install AND on flyleads for custom installs. World first.

23/.Can be controlled by app. World first.

24/.Can be reflashed by app.

25/.Can be reconfigured by app (world first)

26/.2.4GHZz wireless control. World first 2006.

27/.No powerbase required. World first 2006.

28/.Schottky diodes as standard. World first 2006

29/.Wireless telemetry. World first 2009.

30/.Nordic nRF52832 chip. Latest technology. World first.

31/.12V accessory output to drive any accessory. World first.

 

 

Scorpius. World leaders in digital slot car technology. 

Thanks for reading. 

 

Rick

 

[LookToWindward 0]

Hi,

Any news on this? I've looked on the Scorpius Web Site but no mention of Ultima System? When will it be available for purchase?

Thanks a lot

All the Best

Dave

 

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Dave,

  The Ultima best like system has been out since 2015. Recently we did some upgrades.

And yes it needs to be added to our website.

No additional hardware is required. All you need to do is upgrade your Lane Brain board in your lane changer to Ultima and you’re cruisin’

All downloads are free on our website.

 

Rick 

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys. 
    Here’s a design of a Scorpius F1 car decoder. 
This version is 12x8 mm or 96 sq mm

Its around 1/4 of the size of the current Generation 1 chip!!! And it’s still wireless. In fact it uses the relatively new Nordic nRF52832 chip which is a combined RF and Bluetooth radio chip together with a nice microprocessor all in the one unit.

So 96sq. mm is cool. 
Note 26 components in all.

It would be nice to go even smaller employing different combinations say under 10x5mm or 50 sq. mm. That would be a huge 87.5% reduction in size compared to the current Gen 1 car decoder. Or say 1/8th of the size. Is it even possible?

 

Rick

 

      

 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2020 by aussieslotter

[Rumrunner1 1]

News has been a bit quiet lately

im glad to hear things are progressing

cant wait

[aussieslotter 47]

Hi Guys

Day 1 December 15

Writing specification for the F1 chip (Version 2) and emailing to John today.

Lets  see what he can come up with.....

 

 

Rick

Edited December 14, 2020 by aussieslotter

[aussieslotter 47]

This thread is 13 years 1 month and 4 days old and no end in sight!!!!

[gazza 77]

If you build it, they will read  ........   

 

[aussieslotter 47]

Day 2 and 3....
Success! 
John has, in just 2 days designed the worlds smallest car decoder.   
Size is just 10x5mm
Another world first for Team Scorpius!

Next stage is create manufacturing files for production. 

Rick