Overview

 

The Autonomous Race Management System comprises of two major software components.

  • PC Software
  • CU Microprocessor Software

 

The PC Software comprising of over 30 modules along with the CU Microprocessor Software are designed to work closely with the Carrera 1/32 Digital Slot Car system. This system has been individually designed and built with no affiliation with Carrera Revell of Americas, Inc. and / or Carrera Toys GmbH.

 

The Carrera 1/32 Digital Slot Car system utilizes a Control Unit (CU) that sends / receives digital signals to / from the track rail in addition to receiving signals from hand controllers and a S-Video DIN Socket connection. This Autonomous World Race Management System utilizes knowledge of these messages and is built around the time intervals that the Carrera CU uses, 75 milli seconds. Throughout the system the User will see references, graphs and simulations that are based on this interval. This timing interval is the controlling factor that underlies the design of the modules that make up the Autonomous / Computer driven concept.

 

The Autonomous / Computer mode of the system is NOT the same as the Carrera Ghost car. Carrera only allows one Ghost car on the track at any point in time and it races at a constant speed. The Autonomous / Computer mode caters to up to 6 cars racing with real speed variations as if being controlled by hand controllers. Such cars can race so fast around a track that it is even difficult for an individual to race with them. This makes for very exciting racing.

 

The Autonomous / Computer mode of the system requires “Gates” to be placed around the track in order to synchronize the car location on the track to recorded speeds. The Carrera Check Lanes can be used as Gates, along with specially built Gate electronics which can be installed on other Carrera straight track sections. This is necessary to greatly reduce cars exiting the track. On a very simple track the Start / Finish line plus one Check Lane will suffice, and as simple tracks become bigger additional Gates will be needed. On more expansive tracks with lane change, pit lanes and crossovers sections, numerous Gates should (but not necessarily) be installed (refer to “Track Design Best Practices” for guidance).

Components

 

The Carrera Real World Race Management System uses two main components.

  1. PC Software Module
  2. CU Microprocessor

 

PC Software Module

The software module is written in an 'Open Source' computer language and requires a modern PC with a minimum CPU of 4 to 8 cores. If the User wishes to utilize various track layouts (other than standard layouts provided in Carrera boxed sets) then one additional software component (purchased separately) will be necessary:

  • Carrera Circuit Designer – Autorennbahnplaner©

 

CU Microprocessor

Two version of the microprocessor will be available. The first version will have dual cores running at 133MHz and will require a connection to the PC via a USB-C cable. The second version will have dual cores, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth running at either 160MHz or 240MHz and will connect to the PC via WiFi. Both versions will be enclosed in a container with overall dimensions measuring approximately 60 x 36 x 17 mm.

The microprocessor has the following required connections to the Carrera Digital Race Track

  • Connection to the track rails
  • Connection to the first Controller port
  • Connection to the Controller S-Video DIN Socket port
  • Connection to the PC via USB-C (to be purchased separately)

Special Features

 

There are numerous Special Features that act as an integral part of the management system.

  • Race Car Management
  • Race Series Management
  • Race Team Management
  • Race Driver Management
  • Race-Track Management
  • Race-Track Control Management
  • Qualifying (Q1 / Q2 / Q3)
  • Qualifying Analysis for each racing car displaying speed vs track location per qualifying lap
  • Starting Grid Setup
  • Race Day Preparation of throttle, brakes, tires, DRS (available)
  • Performance feedback in real time, displaying steering wheel throttle, speed, revs, fuel, tires, etc.
  • Manual Race control vs Autonomous Race Control vs Combination of both
  • Real Time Race Car control via pit side management (Autonomous mode)
  • Performance Charts displaying speed vs track comparisons between each racing car
  • Simulation of each racing car displaying speeds against the background of the race circuit
  • Review each race with actual race car data displayed on each circuit
  • Racing Calendar
  • Race Points assigned for finishing position and fastest lap
  • Results per race on the calendar
  • Championship Results

Release Phases

 

The Software will be released in phases.

The following functionality is in first phase release and is available now.

  • Race Car Management
  • Race Series Management
  • Race Team Management
  • Race Driver Management
  • Track Management
  • Track Control Management
  • Qualifying (Q1 / Q2 / Q3)
  • Qualifying Analysis for each racing car displaying speed vs track location per qualifying lap
  • Starting Grid Setup
  • Race Day Preparation of throttle, brakes, tires, DRS (available)
  • Performance feedback in real time, displaying steering wheel throttle, speed, revs, fuel, tires, etc.
  • Manual Race control vs Autonomous Race Control vs Combination of both
  • Performance Charts displaying speed vs track comparisons between each racing car
  • Simulation of each racing car displaying speeds against the background of the race circuit
  • Racing Calendar
  • Race Points assigned for finishing position and fastest lap
  • Results per race on the calendar
  • Championship Results

 

Future planned phases will contain the following.

  • Real Time Race Car control via pit side management (Autonomous mode)
  • Real Time Race Car control running on individual computers rather than a central management computer
  • Review each race with actual race car data displayed on each circuit
  • History Race Simulation
  • Ability to import different Steering Wheels for Performance feedback