[Dr_C]

Earlier I showed a 2x20pin RF module which is based on the Nordic nFR52840 wireless chip. This module forms the core of a twelve car wireless hub which is designed to receive inputs from up to twelve wireless throttles. The wireless hub then either forwards this throttle data unmodified onwards to the twelve cars or, alternatively, the data can be modified via input from a race management program running on a PC. This approach is interesting because it should allow both lag-free wireless comms between the throttles and the cars yet at the same time allowing for simulation effects such as fuel mass effects and weather etc. [Note by lag-free I mean approx 10msec maximum delay i.e. undiscernible by human drivers].


It’s early days, the core wireless system functions in terms of reading throttle values and broadcasting this information to the twelve cars. Next to test the PC power control functions via USB signals from the PC (i.e. the race management program).

The image below shows a second prototype of the wireless hub which includes the necessary USB interface. It also includes an interface for a rotary encoder and a two digit LED readout. These are to be used for binding with wireless throttle and also, of course, binding with the wireless in-car decoders.

   

Still a long way to go … but a truely fun journey from a tech dev point of view.

c