FYI, there's a device that's used in a lot of road races ("foot races")
called a "ChampionChip".  It;s a small transponder that is typically tied to
the shoelaces, and detected at the finish line.   The company is at
www.championchip.com - they may or may not have a solution that would be
appropriate to auto events.
Jim

----- Original Message -----
From: "Liam O'Hagan" <liam@GLI.COM.AU>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: [EE]: Identifying cars


> Thanks for the ideas everyone!
>
> The problem I face here is unit cost, adding more and more hardware to the
> in-car device will increase the overall cost of such a system
dramatically.
> The clubs that are looking at purchasing or funding this system don't want
> to spend more than approx $1200 for 25 in car beacons, plus trackside and
> timing room hardware.
>
> This limits me to about $30 - $35 per unit for the in car beacons, which I
> can do using IR and RF. I think a system such as this, with the IR telling
> the RF when to transmit, will be sufficiently accurate and reliable, far
> more so than the current person-with-stopwatch system. I also checked and
> our insurance coverage for the event prohibit us from modifying the track
> surface in any way, especially mid corner...
>
> I definitely cannot install any permanent hardware or make structural
> changes to any facilities at the track.
>
> I'll investigate my options with this, I'll let the list know when a
> solution is reached :)
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]
On
> Behalf Of Richard.Prosser@POWERWARE.COM
> Sent: Thursday, 18 March 2004 7:32 AM
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Re: [EE]: Identifying cars
>
>
> I guess it's too much to hope that there's a drain or duct line under the
> circuit near the appropriate location? (For an RFID Loop)
>
> Why not have the unit on the cars do the timing, triggered by a beacon at
> the chosen spot, and then transmit the info to a PC. It could do the
> transmit thing several times to minimise (data) collision oppertunities. A
> 32kHz watch crystal should be more than adequate for timing.
>
> I see more difficulty in getting the beacon to trigger the device
> appropriately at an accurate location.
>
> Richar P
>
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