Why the start system comes first
Before we time a single race, we are building the thing that starts it. It is useful on its own, and it forces us to get power, connectors and enclosures right.
A timing system is only as fair as its start. So the first Tachyon module is the start system: a hand unit for the starter and a start unit with amplifier and speakers. It works without any other Tachyon hardware, and it will plug into the timing computer once that exists.
Two boxes, one job
The hand unit has a microphone, four flat buttons and a START button with a red and green LED ring. The ring replaces a separate READY light, so the starter never has to look away from the swimmers.
The start unit drives compression-driver speakers, plays start sounds from an SD card and runs from its own battery, so it can stand on the pool deck without a cable to the wall.
Start system, current design
- Hand unit enclosure
- Hammond 1553DBK
- Hand unit link
- RS-485 plus dedicated START line
- Supply
- 12 V
- Audio
- PCM5102A DAC, XY-502 amplifier
- Speakers
- Compression drivers, 2 per 5 lanes
- Battery
- 4 × 32700 cells with BMS
- Strobe
- External connector, step 2