Hey guys, I am studying to be an Industrial Designer with a niche in aftermarket automotive parts. I need you help! I need to design a timer, and what I am most definately doing Lap timer. Something you would set up an external part at the start of a track, and the in car part would display your lap times, average time, total time ect. So what I need to know is: 1) What else would you like from a product like this? (Like intereact with computer, display lateral gs, whatever) 2) How much would you pay? (Or would you buy at all?) --- Thanks guys! This probably wont become a reality, but I would like to get some good market research and I know you guys probably have some kick *** suggestions.

I would strive for something that measures time based on a series of checkpoints around a circuit. These points will have to be placed around the track and will be picked up in the car as you pass them. You cannot accuratley test for G's, accell or anything else with just a timer alone. That takes a whole slew of precisely calibrated and mounted sensors. I would read up on accelerometers and what it takes to calibrate them to help you decide what you want this device to accomplish.

(BR)G-Machine:-

There are lots of products on the market that already fulfill the basic requirements/ambitions you have set out. however, not all tracks have the required beacons for these devices etc. Plus there is so much more you can do.

What you want to create is something like this:-
http://www.race-technology.com/WebPa.../DL90Home.html

The beauty of this is that it ombines GPS and accelerometer technology for better performance and accuracy, yet it is easy to rig up.

"The DL90 logs a whole range of vehicle statistics including acceleration, speed, power, rpm and track position 100 times every second for nearly 90 minutes. The software allows full analysis of the race simply and quickly on your PC."

It does not require a track side beacon, generates track maps itself, more accurate for sector times, 8 analogue and 4 wheel speed inputs, and you can log to compact flash media for loads of storage!

Good luck with your project! Keep us posted!

Thanks for the responses and link! I hadnt thought of using Gps technology, because that would simplify alot of things. I dont know the price difference, but those checkpoints that Shift would like would be easier to do... any probably more cost effective.

Thanks alot guys for the responses... keep em coming. Need as much help as I can get!

The easiest to do would be to copy the HotLap design. It basically has a beacon with infrared LED's in a certain pulsecode that your onboard receiver gets. Every time you receive the signal, you have gone one lap. Probably easy enough to do with $50 in parts, but there are several companies out there that have been there, done that. The DL90 above seems pretty slick, but it's 499 pounds (guessing $600+ USD?). I'd like something that can let me analyze split sections of the track, rather than whole laps. Also - most inexpensive GPS receivers only update position at 5 Hz or so. Keep us in the loop!

Andris, at the current rate of 1UKpound = US$1.80425 499pounds equals a whopping $900. Unbelievable price, but it can analyze sections of the lap if you set it up to do so.

(BR)G-Machine keep us posted on your progress.

Hey guys... ya I think that the GPS technology is pretty slick. But as askulte pointed out it could only possibly be good to .2 of a second, which isnt to bad, but raves have been won and lot by smaller margins. Anyway, I am just conceptualizing the ideas, and overal look and layout. Anything else is beyond the scope of the product, unless I sell the design... which is unlikely are the best.

I have just done a buncha sketches, and wil lbe scanning and uploading em shortly. In the computer lab atm.

Anyway... keep em coming. The concepts that the DL90 had really helped me for some display boreds I made. Thanks for that.

But keep the ideas coming! The presentation of the final sketches and concepts in 2 weeks from today.