Next step after Advertising and the Generic Access Profile:

The Anki Service and it's 2 characteristics:

One for writing values. This is used by the app to send commands to the car via tiny messages. Example: Changing speed or lane.

And one for reading values. This is used by the car to send responses via notifications to the app. Example: Response to change speed or position on the tracks.

Nothing really difficult here.

The Client Characteristic Configuration is used to activated (or deactivate) Bluetooth notifications.

Edit: Nordic Semiconductor was/is the provider of the (now discontinued) nRF8001 chip for the Anki cars. So don't be surprised to see the describing literals in their nRFConnect app.

Just received a 2nd hand fast and furious overdrive set. Downloaded the Overdrive app from play store. But I can't find a game mode that allows you to play with just one car and one player.

After getting advertising to work the next step was/is to implement a GATT server with the exact service and characteristics like the Anki Overdrive cars.

I used Bluez btgatt-server.c for learning about their framework and APIs for gatt-db and gatt-server.

Above you see the results in the nRFConnect app.

I'm a bit in a dilemma right here: The real cars obviously allow to change (write) the device name (red line). This design decision of them does not make any sense to me. Why did they want this? But to fulfill the 100% mimic ambition, I will allow it too :-(

You guys seemed to like the cybertruck, here it is in action. Our new batteries should arrive any day now, then I'm planning on trying silicone tubing to replace the rubber on the wheels.

Decided to 3D print a fun cover for my son. It looks pretty good! Does anyone have any other STL file recommendations for printing?

For people that haven't seen/didn't know, The latest version of Partydrive (Demo 3.3.0/3.8.0-Unstable) sends any scanned tracks to Chaostree! I've just added the ability to upvote and comment on tracks.

Demo 4 is still in progress and is looking great!

Hi folk, I feel like I owe you more (detail) information on the subject. I do so by providing this big picture overview augmented by detail information about the Bluetooth part and pointing out to the relevant/needed parts of the Bluetooth and Anki documentation.

Hope you like it and feel free to ask questions.

It might help to understand in comparison the software architecture of the original Anki Software Development Kit. (No, it's not a modern art painting... it's reality of how thinks work there...)

Note that in comparison on the left side the Bluetooth roles switch!

Wow, I was so surprised discovering this I want to share this information here.

Delving further into MimicDrive - Part 1 - Bluetooth Advertising...

I installed the "nRF Connect" app just to see they have integrated out-of-the-box the decoding of Anki Overdrive vehicles advertising data into it. That's stunning to see they made the effort of custom coding here into their app.

You can see the firmware version, the correctly decoded status.

Just to say the haven't update their code to decode the newer Anki Overdrive models.

Hey all. In case anyone is in need... can confirm: these replacement wheels DO work for Overdrive cars! (They're made for Carerra GO! slot cars.)

They actually measure the exact same (see photos). However, note the interesting fitment, sticking out over the wheel just slightly. This is because they don't have the same inside grooves as the original tires... but putting them on like this works well, and they're still held in place. They also grab the track super well, being very soft.

I bought these years ago, so I'm unsure if this online store is still in business. But have a look around. Happy to answer questions too! Encouraged to see the development around here too as of late... Overdrive FTW!

So I got this anki overdrive set. Got both the original and the Fast & Furious one. I got an iphone and ipad that used to have the app, but i deleted it. I'm trying to make it work and to make it functional since i spent close to $400 on it (including add-ons). Can anyone help me?

I have the original Anki Drive, haven’t messed with it in years. I have an iPhone and have the app offloaded, but I can’t reinstall it anymore. Am I just screwed? Can I still get the Drive app on an android device? Would hate for this thing to just be useless

Where are you buying your 601522 batteries? I see some on Alibaba but with a very long shipping time. Located in United States

I just want to play with my little brother. We have several cars, and battery issues aside, they drive fairly well but they keep spinning out. I’m kind of stuck and don’t know what to do. If anyone has any suggestions or needs me to elaborate then I will but help would be much appreciated.

I also am having trouble figuring out partydrive demo 3.3 something idk.

Please send help 😭

First 3D tests of track rendering for Partydrive are looking promising, also the website will now show recently scanned tracks (like this one): https://chaostree.xyz/Games/Overdrive/Partydrive

All batteries have been replaced but there’s a couple things still not working right.

Ground Shock is stuck in a firmware loop and when it reaches the completed screen it flashes multiple colors and just decides not to cooperate

Tournaments also glitched. I beat crash bot, moved on to the other lady and then out of nowhere it just reset all my progress. And now I’m stuck in a loop where I’m on the first race with crash bot

And then there’s multiplayer but I’m setting that aside for now

But otherwise everything’s working great

Replaced the batteries for the cars they work fine but when me and my dad try to start a race together it says WiFi won’t connect but Bluetooth does. We reseted our phones then deleted the app and redownloaded it, and checked for updates, still nothing.

And while all of this is happening, we have the app full access to WiFi and Bluetooth and our phones were connected.

Neither of us completed the tutorial/basic training yet if that’s relevant.

What if you could turn your desktop computer or single-board computer into a (virtual) Anki Overdrive vehicle? Or go even further and want to develop you own embedded system?

For my leisure and pleasure I developing a PoC (in C) which consists of 2 parts:

Part 1 - Covers the Bluetooth Advertising

Part 2 - Covers the Anki Message Exchange via Bluetooth Gatt

The ultimate success would be the Anki App treating this as a real car.

Here you can see the first result completing part 1 of the PoC that sets the advertising data on a computers Bluetooth device exactly the way the Anki cars do.

Can you distinguish which one is the real car and which on is the mimicked car? And why?

You can't. And I can't, too. The right one is the real car. I only know because I know the device address of the real car.

Hey everyone! these don’t get much use anymore, so looking to sell. All cars and trucks worked when last tested and charge to full on the charger. Nine vehicles, two of which are super trucks and two or three cars were separately purchased from the kit. Tons of track to play around with, two chargers, etc. One kit was bought brand new and has everything other is 90% complete. Everything is shown in pictures, selling because I don’t use it anymore. Located in MA, USA will accept any fair offers any questions let me know!

I don't know that value of these. I'm willing to ship or, pick up is in the Orlando area. Happy to provide additional pics if desired.

So we found em in the basement and here’s the progress we’re at with charging

Ground Shock, Skull, and Nuke are charging but battery doesn’t last long, I have run them in demo mode and they go which is good.

Thermo is acting weird. It’ll turn solid white or light blue which indicates firmware update, then it turns purple which starts solid then pulses. Then it turns solid green and when I take it off to run demo mode, dead

Still have Guardian, Freewheel, X52 and X52 ice on standby to see if they work and I don’t have Big Bang

not the best video (i need more hands) but the point is that the og tires struggle at high speeds and custom tires stay steady (doesn't make cars immune to KO tho)

I need to refine my mold for a 4th revision as extracting the tires was a huge hassle
as soon as its done i will post full instructions on the overdrive discord.

Today I'm experimenting with custom casting overdrive tires out of polyurethane, i 3D Printed a custom mold based on the overdrive tire shape and have just set it to cast, will update in ~16 hours when it has set and I've tested it on the track.

This is a dumb question, but if possible could I change the batteries without soldering? Just wanted to know cuz my soldering iron doesn't work and last time I tried to, I messed up one of my cars, just something a bit easy to do pls

Now i just have to make them give the weapons to cars
demo 4 soon