Add traffic lights to start in Z-Round

[IvanR3D]

Hi, I am using RiCino with Z-Round software and I would like to know if someone can tell me which message send the Z-Round when it is doing the 10 seconds countdown to start a race. I would like to add my own traffic light system to display when the race start (maybe even add a servo motor to move a gate to open the track). In the RiCino code I notice there are some standard message to connect (%C&), start race/practice (%I&) and finish race/practice (%F&); but I don't find any documentation about the start countdown. Anyone know how to make it?

[barko99]

Hey Ivan,

as far as I understand, the Zround open protocol is not well suited for that. I understood that the start and finish command are used to start the clock etc. therefore the command is not taking the countdown into credit...

But you could use the scoreboard and starting light module?

https://www.zround.com/wiki/doku.php/startinglights

Starting Lights Devices ZRound supports Starting Lights devices. The protocol can be defined and two working modes are availables (master/slave).

Temperature and Humidity data can be sent as well to ZRound by using special commands to be displayed on screen.

Protocol The protocol includes the commands START, STOP, PAUSE, RESUME, GO, LIGHT, HT, HS described below. The commands can be fully configured in the ZRound Starting Lights configuration page

Slave Mode In Slave mode, ZRound send the “START” command when the race must be started and “STOP” when the lights must be switched off.

The starting lights must send the “GO” command when the startup procedure has been completed and the race must be started.

ZRound → Device

• START = $START\n

• STOP = $STOP\n Device → ZRound

• GO = $GO\n Master Mode When ZRound works in master mode, it controls the countdown and when the lights are switched on/off.

ZRound → Device

• LIGHT = $LIGHT,,\n where

is the light to be controlled 0 off, 1 on ``

https://www.zround.com/index.php/sdm_downloads/starting-lights/

Honestly I didn't try it yet.. I'm still doing some hardware updates and housing options for the TX

[IvanR3D]

Hi @barko99 , thank you for the info!

I just tried it and it works BUT no with the same microcontroller. It needs to open another COM to control the lights. I don't understand why if one simple microcontroller should be enough to make all the work. I first tried with the same Arduino, but once I try to open the lights (putting the same COM that I used to active RiCino and same baud rate) it drops this error: COM Port Error: PurgeComm function failed on COM4 and then it not works. But once I put the lights in a separated microcontroller using another COM, it works perfectly. Now must figure out if it is possible to put in the same, I will be checking the documentation you sent. Thanks again! :)

[xxxWALDOxxx]

Hi Ivan, As far as I am aware there is no way to run all of this through the same COM port. Zround is designed to use a different COM port for the start lights and for timing system receiver. An alternate solution is to use a large TV as an external monitor, then the external monitor shows the large start lights on the screen during the countdown. I know it's not the solution you were specifically asking about, but it is a work-around.

As far as the servo motor for a start gate goes, I integrated that into the original code and got it to work. So that is possible. I used a simple RC car 2.4ghz receiver, and an ESC to operate a start gate wirelessly. I did a simple OUTPUT high, and OUTPUT low call in the code to operate the receiver. Hope this helps.

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From: Iván R. @.> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 8:53 AM To: cdemetriadis/RiCino-Lap-Counter @.> Cc: Subscribed @.***> Subject: Re: [cdemetriadis/RiCino-Lap-Counter] Add traffic lights to start in Z-Round (Issue #3)

Hi @barko99https://github.com/barko99 , thank you for the info!

I just tried it and it works BUT no with the same microcontroller. It needs to open another COM to control the lights. I don't understand why if one simple microcontroller should be enough to make all the work. I first tried with the same Arduino, but once I try to open the lights (putting the same COM that I used to active RiCino and same baud rate) it drops this error: COM Port Error: PurgeComm function failed on COM4 and then it not works. But once I put the lights in a separated microcontroller using another COM, it works perfectly. Now must figure out if it is possible to put in the same, I will be checking the documentation you sent. Thanks again! :)

— Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHubhttps://github.com/cdemetriadis/RiCino-Lap-Counter/issues/3#issuecomment-1948873941, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AHHZJ2MRWNVRSKXXWSH4PTLYT6FIJAVCNFSM6AAAAABDJIHNMWVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTSNBYHA3TGOJUGE. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: @.***>

[IvanR3D]

Hey Waldo, actually you mentioned what I was thinking to do!

Since apparently there is not a good solution to use the same board, I was wondering to add a start gate and also some LED strips to decore race tracks. I will be working on that in the next days. Thanks!

Hi Ivan, As far as I am aware there is no way to run all of this through the same COM port. Zround is designed to use a different COM port for the start lights and for timing system receiver. An alternate solution is to use a large TV as an external monitor, then the external monitor shows the large start lights on the screen during the countdown. I know it's not the solution you were specifically asking about, but it is a work-around. As far as the servo motor for a start gate goes, I integrated that into the original code and got it to work. So that is possible. I used a simple RC car 2.4ghz receiver, and an ESC to operate a start gate wirelessly. I did a simple OUTPUT high, and OUTPUT low call in the code to operate the receiver. Hope this helps. … ________________________________ From: Iván R. @.> Sent: Friday, February 16, 2024 8:53 AM To: cdemetriadis/RiCino-Lap-Counter @.> Cc: Subscribed @.> Subject: Re: [cdemetriadis/RiCino-Lap-Counter] Add traffic lights to start in Z-Round (Issue #3) Hi @barko99https://github.com/barko99 , thank you for the info! I just tried it and it works BUT no with the same microcontroller. It needs to open another COM to control the lights. I don't understand why if one simple microcontroller should be enough to make all the work. I first tried with the same Arduino, but once I try to open the lights (putting the same COM that I used to active RiCino and same baud rate) it drops this error: COM Port Error: PurgeComm function failed on COM4 and then it not works. But once I put the lights in a separated microcontroller using another COM, it works perfectly. Now must figure out if it is possible to put in the same, I will be checking the documentation you sent. Thanks again! :) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#3 (comment)>, or unsubscribehttps://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AHHZJ2MRWNVRSKXXWSH4PTLYT6FIJAVCNFSM6AAAAABDJIHNMWVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMYTSNBYHA3TGOJUGE. You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.Message ID: @.>