Interesting, looks like an RFID system.. Thanks for that -----Original Message----- From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On Behalf Of Jim Tellier Sent: Thursday, 18 March 2004 1:56 PM To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU Subject: Re: [EE]: Identifying cars 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" To: 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 > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: > [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads -- http://www.piclist.com hint: PICList Posts must start with ONE topic: [PIC]:,[SX]:,[AVR]: ->uP ONLY! [EE]:,[OT]: ->Other [BUY]:,[AD]: ->Ads