Drag Race Christmas Tree Design

[michael_mke]

Homework Statement

Question Details:
A "Christmas Tree lighting system is used to start a drag race. The inputs to the system include a start button, a reset button, and two start line sensors. The outputs include lines for Red, Yellow, and Green lights and two Fault lights. When the operator pushes the start button, the red, yellow, and green lights turn on and then off sequentially in equal time increments. If one (or both) of the start line sensors is activated before the green lights comes on, the corresponding fault light is energized, the red, yellow and green lights go off and the system waits for a reset signal. If there is a good start, the green light remains on until the reset button is pressed.

I need help in developing a SM (State Machine) chart for this design.

Here's what I got. I'm pretty sure that it's incorrect though.
Inputs:
SB = Start Button
R = Reset Button
F1 = Start Line Sensor 1
F2 = Start Line Sensor 2

Outputs:
Rd = Red Light
Ye = Yellow Light
Gr = Green Light
FL1 = Fault Light 1
FL2 = Fault Light 2

I have attached the picture of my SM Chart that I created.

 

[LightHero]

Homework EquationsN/AThe Attempt at a SolutionI have attached the picture of my SM Chart that I created.

 

[Mene]

I would suggest that this design could be improved by adding a timer circuit to ensure that the lights turn on and off at precise intervals. This would help to ensure fairness in the race and eliminate any potential discrepancies caused by human error in pressing the start button.

Additionally, I would recommend incorporating fail-safe measures in case of any technical malfunctions. For example, if both start line sensors are activated simultaneously, the system should automatically reset and wait for a new start signal.

Furthermore, I would suggest conducting experiments and collecting data on the time intervals between the lights turning on and off to ensure consistency and accuracy in the system.

In terms of the SM chart, I would suggest adding a "waiting for reset" state after each fault state to clearly indicate that the system is waiting for a reset signal. I would also suggest adding a "ready" state before the start button is pressed to indicate that the system is ready for a race.

Overall, I believe that this design has potential, but it could benefit from further refinement and testing to ensure its effectiveness and reliability in a drag race setting.