I am a novice with all of the Arduino projects that I come to. I have been for over a year trying to do this on my own. I am finally admitting it is way over my head. To get started let’s talk about what I am trying to do. I am trying to convert the slot cars mentioned above to 2.4 GHZ . The manufacture is not going to invest in the tooling to go digital. I can make the cars run, but I can’t control the lane changing capabilities of the analog 27 mhz they are presently using. They utilize a N20 dc motor to drive the lane changing portion of the controller. Presently the n20 motor drives a gear driven rotating cylinder. The cylinder has four pins that as the cylinder rotates, they go up and down. These are the slot pins that keep the cart in a slot. As it rotates, the pins come in and out allowing the car to change a lane or lanes anywhere on the track.The controller has a sensor disk on top of the cylinder with an optical slotted sensor. As the disk rotates it goes thru the sensor. The feed back goes to the controller and has the slot pins stop at the very front of the car to make sure the car stays in the slot. I have tried to duplicate this, but the motor will not stop at the same place each time. It moves around. Only one pin will be out at any time. I will give more info if anyone is interested in tackling this project. Thanks for any assistance
You have written a lot of information, but it is missing which Arduino are you using.
Sorry about that. I am going to use the RF NANO with the built in NRF24LO1 2.4 ghz as to & rx. I am looking at using the MX1508 driver board. I only have so much space, but I can fit these I believe. I am in the process of sending some photos of the car itself plus pics of the actual rotator and pins. Thanks for any help.
Rather than photos, please end a detailed plan of how you intend to step by step program and test your project. You CANNOT just write a bunch of code based on imagination and ever expect the whole thing to magically work as you want.
What I am going to do is try and explain the step by step operation from starting the car:
I am going to try using the RF-NANO W/ NRF24L01.
They will be used to transmit & receive. There are two triggers ; one uses a trigger to go forward or reverse spring centered. The other is a turn wheel. Rotate left/ right to go in respective directions . This is also spring centered.
1-Initial start: The trigger goes thru an (ELC), electronic speed control.
2- there is nothing different for this.
3-To turn . Turn the wheel either direction. The front wheels don’t move. All of the left/right is done thru the rotating cylinder.
4-N20 motor has a small pinion gear, that drives a crown gear, and then planetary gear.Above the pinion gear is a rotating disk with four slots. The disk will travel thru an optical speed censor. When engaged the sensor allows the shaft to travel free. It will stop after approximately 6-10 revolutions & stop at the home position if you continue turning the wheel. If you turn the wheel and release, it will go to the home position and the pin drops into the slot It is the sensor dictating where it it stops and the speed it gets there. The sensor is telling the microcontroller where and how fast to stop.
5- the shaft attaches to a rotating platter with 4 pins. The pins float up and down.( like a carousel ride). To start changing lanes the pin in the slot rotates up & out of the slot! Causing the car to travel in that direction.Release the wheel & it goes to home position with the pin dropping in the slot
These are the actual steps to operate the car. I could not get the car to ever go to the home position.
Your help is appreciated
Thanks
Tom L
I forgot to tell you how to test.The best way would be right on the car and control handle. I’m open for for any suggestions
Yes, most of that is clear, but what do you have operating now and what are you going to work on step by step, next, so someone might be able to help?
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