I was asked to build a system for the AMA and another F3b group was interested in getting one too. The next step was to clean up the design and produce some printed circuit boards. This task was completed in late 1999 and the first three systems have been assembled. I also updated the software to include support for F3F and F3K in addition to F3B and F3J. I have contemplated putting in F5B but I don't have any interested parties at this time. The system performed well for the 2000 US F3b Team Selections in Sacremento. The AMA system performed well. Here is a photo of the lights. Ben Lawless is launching Tom Kiesling's Tragi 702. The counter is on the table behind official D'Anne Thompson to the right. OK, so everyone was tired of hearing my voice after the weekend was over. The 55 Watt automotive lights are easy to see against a black backround in full sun. The lights are set back from the front of the box to keep them out of the sun and prevent any reflections. The buzzers are on top of the box. Be careful when testing them. You don't want to be next to a 120db buzzer when it goes off. The audio part of the system was wired into a PA system on the field.
The system automates
The system is modular. It can be built with the main working time counting plus one pilot. This is sufficient for all tasks except F3B distance. Additional boards can be added to get the system up to four pilots or six pilots for distance.
Separate microcontrollers are dedicated for each task. One microcontroller manages the working and prep times, plus the display. Additional microcontrollers are added for each pilot in Distance. These microcontrollers also do the timing for F3b Speed and F3F.
The official at base A has a box with two pushbuttons. All they need to do is push one button when a plane is launched. Then the other button is used to signal crossing base A. The official at base B has an even simpler job. Just push the button when crossing base B. The box does the rest for you. No stop watches or lap counters. If a pilot misses a turn and the base A or B button is pressed twice without any turn at the opposite end, the cut information is also recorded and no extra laps are counted.
Of course this has the advantage of having additional info that you normally don't have when handling protests. The system is also very unforgiving and will not give you that extra lap you completed at 4:01. Our poor officials are working hard enough without needing to be questioned and protested.
June, 2002 - I've updated the firmware. Lap times are now stored for Distance and Speed tasks. The results and lap times can now be dumped to a PC through a RS-232 serial data port.
June, 2007 - I've updated the countdowns on the windows. This makes the F3j guys happier since it's a full countdown at the end of the window.
Dec, 2008 - I've build a wireless system to replace the base A-B cable.
