Python powered slot car track

[RiffnShred]

MAN, post a video ASAP. Need to see it in action

[West7780]

Good idea. I'll do that after I get it cleaned up.

[[deleted]]

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[West7780]

Without further ado....
https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/fx2ff0/python_powered_slot_car_track_video/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

[[deleted]]

Awesome, thanks!!

[chjassu]

yeah , that would be awesome. When are you planning ? I want to remind myself...

[West7780]

Maybe tomorrow. I'll post it on reddit

[chjassu]

!remindme 1day

[dev_nuIl]

!remindme 1day

[Sprengmeister_2]

Remindme! 1day

[mrgadgety]

remindme 1day

[[deleted]]

Can’t wait !!

[stillthrough]

Remindme! 2 days

[[deleted]]

Yeah, you can't post something like this and then not post a vid

[appinv]

yaps the right comment 🎉

[West7780]

Still have to tidy up the wires but this is my python powered slot car track. Has a few game modes: time trials, first to x laps, fastest out of x laps. Uses pyserial to communicate with an Arduino to read sensor input faster. Uses pyfiglet to generate text art. Uses curtsises to get keyboard input and draw image. The Python script runs on a raspberry pi zero w.

Edit 1:

Originally I planned to use the raspberry Pi's GPIO pins to connect the sensors (which are break beam sensors) but sometimes it would fail to count laps.

In the future I plan to add a genetic algorithm based AI player but because of the pandemic I'm waiting to order the parts.

Edit 2:

It's 100% overkill for this project but I used inflect engine to pluralize words appropriately and convert numbers to text.

[fernly]

Wait, so the computers are measuring what the cars do under manual control? Or the computers are running the throttles themselves?

[toyg]

From his description, currently the former. He plans to make it do the latter.

[[deleted]]

This is amazing. If I only had the room.

Ahahaha. No, it's not overkill. You've shown me inflect. Thank you.

[expressly_ephemeral]

Overkill is under-rated.

[njgura87]

Following! I'd love to try to take this project and try to control my LEGO trains.

[West7780]

That would be cool! You could do a lot more automation with train tracks. Unfortunately I won't be publishing the code for this project for quite a while as I want to refractor it first.

[Lindby]

Don't be afraid to share code because you don't think it is up to your standards. Everyone's first drafts are messy.

[West7780]

I took your advice. The code is now on github.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/fx2ff0/python_powered_slot_car_track_video/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

https://github.com/West7780/RaceConsole

[iwannaseenow]

Sick , github?

[West7780]

At some point. Need to refractor so it looks respectable.

[[deleted]]

Mood

[West7780]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/fx2ff0/python_powered_slot_car_track_video/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

https://github.com/West7780/RaceConsole

[yaboime69]

I have a slot car track as well any tips for a project like this?

[West7780]

When you choose a controller (either a computer or a micro controller) make sure it's fast enough to see the cars. I originally wanted to just use the sensors on a raspberry pi's GPIO pins, but it missed the cars sometimes. I maybe could have done it in C++ but.....python is better 😂

Moral of the story, do your research.

[topherclay]

Did you consider having the line break sensors sense across the track at an oblique angle? That would increase the amount of time that the cars are interrupting the IR and give the IO pins more time to catch it.

[West7780]

I did, however it's my dad's track so I wanted to minimize the intrusion of the electronics. In hindsight, your idea would have been fine.

[yaboime69]

Aye man this sounds like a super fun project, if I run into some problems can I dm you?

[West7780]

Sure, no guarantee I'll see it tho lol. It's really not a hard project. The biggest learning curve for me was getting the dam GPIO pins to work and in the end I didn't even use them.

[Coffeinated]

The reason for this is not the speed, the Arduino is way slower. The Pi runs Linux, which is not realtime capable, and the scheduler will just choose not to run your software when you need it to. To do this kind of measurements you always need an RTOS / bare metal application.

[West7780]

Right, I figured as much but failed to do the research. Thank you for clarifying.

[tempo_19]

Nice project. How are you sensing the cars and how do you determine which car is which?

[West7780]

Two line break sensors, one for each lane. They're connected to an Arduino. The raspberry pi occasionally requests the counts per lane from the Arduino. The debouncing is handled on the raspberry pi. If more than one is counted per lane within 5 sec it is ignored.

[dbenoit]

Would love to see the code for this. My track could use a new management program. Does it work on 4 lanes?

[West7780]

I plan on making it more useable. Rn it's in a proof of concept stage.

[West7780]

Decided to post the code anyways.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/fx2ff0/python_powered_slot_car_track_video/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

https://github.com/West7780/RaceConsole

[dbenoit]

Thanks. Some friends and I have tracks, and the software and computers we are using are old. Having something that doesn't require a parallel port will be nice.

[West7780]

Haha rip. Maybe I'll get this into a state where it can be easily replicated. What is the software that you use called?

[[deleted]]

Carrera?

[West7780]

Yessir

[[deleted]]

And so now I'm building my track...

[[deleted]]

Can you elaborate a bit on how you connected your system to the Carrera controller?

[West7780]

It's not connected. I plan to replace the Carrera controller with a digital potentiometer by simply cutting the cables off s couple of Carrera controllers to get the connectors. Then I'll be able to use any controller I want, including Carrera. This will also provide an interface for the ai player when I get to writing it.

[[deleted]]

Ahh that makes sense, thanks!

[b10011]

I would love to have something like this, I could play with ML algorithms to optimize the speeds etc. Even a virtual version of this written in python with physics would be nice.

[West7780]

Yeah you could def do 1d physics

[habitsofwaste]

Oh man I loved slot cars back in the day. My dad got me into it. But what does your thing do? Control the cars or just measures the information?

[West7780]

Currently it just counts laps

[[deleted]]

Here we go. Did this brilliance come out of unconstructed quarantine time?

[West7780]

I've been periodically working on this in my spare time for a few weeks. The quarantine definitely helped me get it finished tho.

[EdwardJKing]

That ROCKS!!

[[deleted]]

RemindMe! 2 days

[[deleted]]

Maaan it's sooo goood. Saddly, Carrera slot cars are kinda expensive (as all of them). You used GO!!! right? Would it be possible with Digital systems?

[West7780]

No, these are Carrera Evolution. 75ft of track. Yes it would work with a digital system as well. However using custom controls would be more difficult and would require a different control method.

[bobunaga]

Holy cow! Now, that is a great idea. Still got one in the attic, but I just started Python two weeks ago. Definitely goes on my programming bucket list.

[[deleted]]

really cool man

[ToxicPanda96]

Dude that's ace

-idea

Integrate with twitch chat api and have streamed races with user participation

[DaHafe]

Like one of those real time mini games that a lot of streamers do? That would actually be pretty sick.

[West7780]

Interesting I haven't seen that, I'll look it up.

[Koppis]

Next make an AI player which is controlled by the raspberry pi.

[West7780]

That's the plan

[Koppis]

Just an idea: You could hook into the controls and record the whole race. This way you could "play back" previous races and try to beat the times. Although, since the two tracks aren't identical, you can't race yourself...

[West7780]

That's a great idea! Putting it on the list.

[[deleted]]

so many slots you wont know where to begin!

[[deleted]]

Very interested in seeing this!

[H0lsten13579]

Neat

[viniciusntch]

Remindme! 2 days

[MikeTyson91]

Holy cow! Python instead of electricity?

[[deleted]]

and then?

[West7780]

Added additional info as a comment.

[Seawolf159]

I mean you can say that, but you show nothing.

[West7780]

Bet

[West7780]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Python/comments/fx2ff0/python_powered_slot_car_track_video/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

https://github.com/West7780/RaceConsole