The lap counting system

This page is about the electronic Lap counting system, developed and run by Aberfoyle Park High School Computing co-ordinator, Brian Lee, and several students from the school.

History

Prior to 1990 the Lap counting was done manually (By people watching the vehicles pass and writing down the number of the vehicle). This was a very inefficient system, and Brian decided that there must be a way or recording the results electronically. He researched this possibility and contacted several companies including Transponder Australia and Integrated Silicon Design. He finally decided on a unit called an interrogator developed by Integrated Silicon Design, an innovative company from South Australia. It is interesting to note that this is the same technology that is used to identify cars as they pass through the toll gate on the Sydney Harbour bridge. The Pedal Prix Committee made $6000 available for the interrogator unit and the passive tags and the timing system was developed.

Brian experimented the next year at the 1990 Pedal Prix which used two interrogator units placed above the track. This trial led to further tests with cars and the interrogator unit was placed right angles to the track. This proved to be a very reliable method of recording record passing vehicles. For the next year Brian asked some students from the School to assist him with his project. These students (Chris Till, Zia Khoshkho, Grantley Roper and Shane Gillies) worked closely with Brian on software and hardware configuratuions. They developed a fully working system which successfully counted the 1991 Pedal Prix with no trouble. The system and software was rewritten and improved, and continues to be used successfully today.

In 1996, the Pedal Prix results became available on the internet for the first time. People were able to view reports for every single car, plus overall and fastest lap reports. In 1997, the web-based report system has been fully integrated into the lap counting system which means that the results can be quickly and easily posted to the web, shortly after the event.

The team that developed the system consisted of Brian Lee (Team Manager), Robert Ardill (Coding and Graphics), Zia Khoshkho (Coding and Graphics), Grantley Roper (Hardware, Software, Coding), Jason Curl (Coding), and Peter Kelly (Coding). Various students become involved each year and ex-students still return to help time the event. The event has had many benefits for the school and students and Brian has integrated the event into the Computing curriculum as an example of an information system.

How does the system work?

Click here to find out.

This year the lap counting team consists of the folowing people:

Brian Lee
Robert Ardill
Grantley Roper
Zia Khoshkho
Peter Kelly
Paul Willis