TFC - EMEA - wall comments

[FlavioStiffan]

32 schools and over 300 students have registered for the 2012/2013 Freescale Cup competition across 9 countries. 

This year the race will feature a choice of 2 MCU platforms:

• Qorivva's MPC5604B 32bit Automotive controller
• Kinetis ARM Cortex-M4 32bit Industrial microcontroller

Students are working to create the most intelligent race car to win the EMEA Finals that will be held end of March 2013 at the ESIEE Paris. Follow their progress and see their videos on this site.

[FlavioStiffan]

See University of Landshut report about TFC @ Embedded World 2012 at http://www.fh-landshut.de/pressestelle/news/embedded-world

[FlavioStiffan]

@Mateusz: The teams will get a guide for the event by end of next week. In the meantime:

we will have the track available from 11:00 till 12:30 for try outs on the first competition day.

We will try to get the track available before 11:00 for more time but it is not yet confirmed.

At 13:00, all race cars must be ready for inspection. From that moment till the end of the competition, only battery change will be allowed.

Cars will be locked in on the evening of the first day to avoid any issues with last minute reprogramming.

[FlavioStiffan]

@Mati: It is allowed to have more than 1 algorithm on your car that can be picked before you start the lap. No reprogramming via wired or wireless connection allowed. This means that your algorithms must be programmed before the race.

[FlavioStiffan]

@Marek: as we will equip the room where the race track will be with a special lighting rigging, we are not able to tell you the lux level. You can look at the images and videos taken during Embedded World in the Forum. We will choose a slightly lower light intensity to avoid shadows as much as possible. 100% homogenous lighting won't be possible.

[MateuszCholewis]

Another question from Our contestants: how much time will be given to check the track? Sorry If I have missed that information.

[Mati]

Is it allowed to load into uC program with two race algorithms, selectable by keys on board, differ for example PD regulation settings or camera sensitivity adjustment, and start car for one lap with first algorithm and second one with other algorithm, or it would be found as illegal software modification?

[admin]

Iam wondering if we can know something more about lightning conditions on the track. Lux level and homogenity.

[FlavioStiffan]

EETimes press coverage of the Freescale Cup at Embedded World 2012: http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-blogs/double-dutch/4237744/Students-demo-intelligent-car-designs

[FlavioStiffan]

All: for video and technical report submission: your coordinator has access to the Freescale Drop Box. Make sure they have your files for submission if not done yet

[FlavioStiffan]

To all EMEA Finals participants:

In light of the Freescale Cup Demo we did at the Embedded World show (pictures and videos posted on StreetSmarts), I would like to highlight a few things we have learned:

• The lighting conditions are an important factor of success, the lights used at Embedded World  was very strong (discharge 400 W bulbs). Teams had difficulties to manage the video signal due to shading created by strong ligthing. We are looking to use a lower intensity lighting to help match some of the conditions they have been training in at the campus. Please make sure you are programming your cars to work with good track lighting. This will help to quickly cope with the light conditions you will encounter.
• The lap count for the finals will be changed from 2 consecutive laps to 2 times 1 lap. This will help you to adjust car/camera or change the battery for a full charge on the 2nd attempt. In addition, this process will be used at the FTF event in San Antonio and, consecutively, in all Freescale Cups around the world. The procedure will be as follows:
• • Team runs the car for 1 lap on the track. After the 1st lap the car should stop passed the finish line
  • Team has the opportunity to make a battery change and adjust the car for a second attempt. Car must stay on the track and no software change/reprogramming can be done on the car. Teams can proceed in cleaning tires, adjust camera angle or adjust other mechanical parts during this pause of maximum 2 min.
  • Same car runs a 2nd attempt of 1 lap on the track. The car should stop passed the finish line.
  • The best time lap time is recorded and counts as score
  • If the car exits the track or does not finish the first attempt, the team has 2 min to get the car ready for a second 1 lap attempt.

The same process is applied for the qualification run and the final run.

As we are doing the change on a very short notice, teams that cannot reprogram the car to stop after the finish line after the 1st lap won't be penalized but the function will count as a criteria for the special award for best car technology.

The same communication was sent to all the coordinators to ensure that we all have a more successful and fun race. 

See you in Prague!!!

Flavio

[FeliuGabriel]

Can someone tell us where to send the tech report and the presentation video ?

[SorinCracana]

How should we send you the presentation video and the tech report ?

[FlavioStiffan]

Live from Embedded World in Nuremberg. The Freescale Cup Demo is live.

[RichardBalogh_n]

The university race was a great success (measured by the interest
of visitors - and less succesful measured by the performance of teams)!

Two teams were clear winners, but the third finalist was selected only
after few additional attempts. It was really a bad luck as the teams
did perform quite well during the Dooor Open event a month ago.

We finished the cup with the 3 more or less died processor boards,
one crippled camera and one interface board and motor burned. As a
bonus  one laptop was not operating after the contest. Quite success
for the first time, isn't it? :)

See photos and videos from the event! The report, resutls and photos are

available also from the webpage http://robotics.sk

Statistics:

• 7 teams registered
• 6 hour racing and testing (9:00 - 15:00)
• 5 teams did succeed in race
• 4 hundred Euro cost the track
• 3 damaged boards
• 2 disqualified teams
• 1 great event!

See you all in Prague!

[MateuszCholewis]

Hi All,

We had our local races on Saturday 25.02. From 15 teams 14 decided to check theirs car with other teams. After all (from 9.00 to 16.00) 3 teams are going to race in Pargue. So prepare for battle! :)

[FlavioStiffan]

@ Richard.... post a few videos and photos if you can. You can also post some info on the University Programs network on Facebook and LinkedIn

[FlavioStiffan]

@ Richard.... good luck to all the teams. I assume the winning teams will join us in Prague.

[RichardBalogh_n]

Freescale Cup university contest at the STU Bratislava will start Monday, Feb. 27th.

at 12:00. Prepared are 7 teams, 20 track components and few prices from sponsors.

Good luck!

[JanJakubik]

Pay attention while modifying your motor control board, you can easily damage the H - bridges. The input IN1 is connected to GND, what is a huge piece of copper and it is not easy to desolder it.

[FlavioStiffan]

image002.jpeg

The schematics attached.

[FlavioStiffan]

For better braking performance, here is a tip from Jens Pfeiffer

In order to go forward and backwards, you have to have control over IN1 and IN2 (see table 5 below).  

If you look into the schematic, you can see that IN1 is directly connected to GND. In order to enable breaking you need to lift pin 43, solder a wire to it and control it properly.Table.jpg

This provides accurate braking and allows you to run the car at higher speeds