Published April 22, 2023

Power Wheels

Over the span of the Spring 2023 semester, Team 8 utilized a children's power wheel to implement and test various sensors.

IntermediateWork in progress11

Things used in this project

Hardware components

AA Batteries

Battery Holder, AA x 4

Breadboard (generic)

Particle Argon

Resistor 100 ohm

Resistor 10k ohm

Seeed Studio Grove - 10A DC Current Sensor (ACS725)

SparkFun Dual H-Bridge motor drivers L298

Throttle Sensor

Software apps and online services

Particle Build Web IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Multitool, Screwdriver

Story

BACKGROUND

The course, MEGR 3092: Control of Electric Drivetrains, was centered on the implementation of a variable throttle sensor, a current sensor, and various other components that were utilized to improve the drivetrain of the electric vehicle. While exploring the purpose of each individual sensor, the students involved in the course gained a better understanding of the importance of current and voltage levels and their relations to one another.

VARIABLE THROTTLE RESULTS

The following are the results from the testing performed at the conclusion of implementing the current sensor and the variable throttle.

Figure 1: Electric Vehicle Current Logger Results

Figure 2: Electric Vehicle Voltage Logger Results

Figure 3: Electric Vehicle Variable Speed Throttle Logger Results

Note: Graphs in "real-time" can be found here.

VARIABLE THROTTLE VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

The following is a video demonstration of the implemented variable speed throttle.

VARIABLE THROTTLE: ADDITIONAL IMAGES

Figure 1: Entire Setup Within the Vehicle

Figure 2: Close-up View of Breadboard and Variable Throttle

Figure 3: Particle Argon Setup

Figure 4: H Bridge

Figure 5: Current Sensor

Figure 6: Voltage Divider

SLEW RATE TRACTION CONTROL DEMONSTRATION VIDEO

Code

%Slew Rate Traction Control%#define enA A1
#define in1 A2
#define in2 A3


int rotDirection = 0;
int potValue = 0;
int smoothedpwm = 0;
int pressed = false;

//int button = D5;

void setup() {
  pinMode(enA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(D5, INPUT_PULLDOWN);
  // Set initial rotation direction
  digitalWrite(in1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(in2, HIGH);
  Particle.variable("potValue", String(potValue));
  Particle.variable("in1", String(in1));
  Particle.variable("in2", String(in2));
  Particle.variable("TPS", String(smoothedpwm));
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  //Particle.publish("potValue", String(potValue), PRIVATE);
  //Particle.publish("in1", String(in1), PRIVATE);
  //Particle.publish("in2", String(in2), PRIVATE);
    // Direction Control
    pressed = digitalRead(D5);
    if (pressed == true){
	digitalWrite(in1, HIGH);
	digitalWrite(in2, LOW);
	delay(20);}
    if (pressed == false){
    digitalWrite(in1, LOW);
	digitalWrite(in2, HIGH);
	delay(20);}
	// Speed Control
	int potValue = analogRead(A4); // Read potentiometer value
    int pwmOutput = potValue; //map(potValue, 0, 255, 0, 255); // Map the potentiometer value from 0 to 255 potValue;
	smoothedpwm += (pwmOutput - smoothedpwm)*0.1; // Adjust the constant scaling factor for different rates
    Serial.println(smoothedpwm);
	analogWrite(enA, smoothedpwm);
	//Serial.println();
	//Serial.println(pressed);
	//Serial.println(in1);
	//.println(in2);
	Particle.publish("TPS", String(smoothedpwm), PRIVATE);
    delay(50);
}

#define enA A1
#define in1 A2
#define in2 A3


int rotDirection = 0;
int potValue = 0;
int smoothedpwm = 0;
int pressed = false;

//int button = D5;

void setup() {
  pinMode(enA, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(in2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(D5, INPUT_PULLDOWN);
  // Set initial rotation direction
  digitalWrite(in1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(in2, HIGH);
  Particle.variable("potValue", String(potValue));
  Particle.variable("in1", String(in1));
  Particle.variable("in2", String(in2));
  Particle.variable("TPS", String(smoothedpwm));
  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {
  //Particle.publish("potValue", String(potValue), PRIVATE);
  //Particle.publish("in1", String(in1), PRIVATE);
  //Particle.publish("in2", String(in2), PRIVATE);
    // Direction Control
    pressed = digitalRead(D5);
    if (pressed == true){
	digitalWrite(in1, HIGH);
	digitalWrite(in2, LOW);
	delay(20);}
    if (pressed == false){
    digitalWrite(in1, LOW);
	digitalWrite(in2, HIGH);
	delay(20);}
	// Speed Control
	int potValue = analogRead(A4); // Read potentiometer value
    int pwmOutput = potValue; //map(potValue, 0, 1023, 0 , 255); // Map the potentiometer value from 0 to 255
	smoothedpwm += (pwmOutput - smoothedpwm)*0.1;
    //Serial.println(smoothedpwm);
	analogWrite(enA, smoothedpwm);
	Serial.println();
	Serial.println(pressed);
	Serial.println(in1);
	Serial.println(in2);
	Particle.publish("TPS", String(smoothedpwm), PRIVATE);
    delay(5000);
}

float currentCurrent = 0;
float voltageCheck = 0; 
void setup() { 
    Particle.variable("Current", String(currentCurrent));
    Particle.variable("Voltage", String(voltageCheck));
}
void loop() {
    currentCurrent=analogRead(A0);
    if (currentCurrent>0) {
        currentCurrent = (2000-analogRead(A0))/150.1;
        Particle.publish("currentCurrent", String(currentCurrent), PRIVATE);
    }
    voltageCheck=(analogRead(A3)*0.0015);
    if (voltageCheck>0) {
        Particle.publish("voltageCheck", String(voltageCheck), PRIVATE);
    }
    delay(10000);
}

Credits

Cherokee Hall

1 project • 1 follower

Thanks to Gus De Piante, Wesley Goodwin, and Carson Andrijanoff.

Power Wheels

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

BACKGROUND

VARIABLE THROTTLE RESULTS

VARIABLE THROTTLE VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

VARIABLE THROTTLE: ADDITIONAL IMAGES

SLEW RATE TRACTION CONTROL DEMONSTRATION VIDEO

Schematics

Power Wheel Schematic

Code

Slew Rate Traction Control

Power Wheels Variable Throttle Sensor

Current Sensor

Credits

Cherokee Hall

Comments

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Power Wheels

Power Wheels

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

BACKGROUND

VARIABLE THROTTLE RESULTS

VARIABLE THROTTLE VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

VARIABLE THROTTLE: ADDITIONAL IMAGES

SLEW RATE TRACTION CONTROL DEMONSTRATION VIDEO

Schematics

Power Wheel Schematic

Code

Slew Rate Traction Control

Power Wheels Variable Throttle Sensor

Current Sensor

Credits

Cherokee Hall

Comments

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