Research: IR Sensor to catch moving object

Need: Toy racing cars run down a track, and we want to know how fast it takes to get from one end of a 5m track to the other.

Requirements: IR Beam equipment at the Start and End of the track to record the start and finish times. Raspberry PI computer to work out the time comparison and display on a screen. Beam distance is about 20 cm

Learning:

• https://learn.adafruit.com/ir-breakbeam-sensors
• https://www.tansi.org/rp/interfacing5v.html
• https://roboticsbackend.com/raspberry-pi-3-pins/
• https://www.digikey.com.au/en/articles/protecting-inputs-in-digital-electronics
• https://core-electronics.com.au/guides/digital-electronics/how-to-use-logic-level-shifters-converters/

Options:

• https://www.pakronics.com.au/products/5v-ir-photoelectric-switch-4m-df-sen0523
  • $21.24
• https://www.pakronics.com.au/products/ir-break-beam-sensor-with-premium-wire-header-ends-5mm-leds-ada2168
  • $15.25
  • It works up to 50cm
• https://core-electronics.com.au/ir-break-beam-sensor-5mm-leds.html
  • $12.40 (cheaper than pakronics)
• https://core-electronics.com.au/infrared-ir-proximity-sensor-for-arduino-105mm8020mm.html
  • $5.56
  • Unknown how fast it would detect the objects moving past.

Parts that might be needed for wire length:

• https://core-electronics.com.au/logic-level-converter-bidirectional.html
  • This will allow the wire to go to 5V.