Hi all,

I don't know if anyone remembers my remote control request for 'real
vehicles' a while ago, but I completed a system and ran the crash test
today. I figured something must be wrong because it all worked first
time :-)

I gave up on the idea of radio remote and used an umbilical cord for
safety sake. I ended up using a 16F84 to control a steering mechanism I
made up using a windshield wiper motor. The PIC was used to sense when
the steering wheel was off center and re center it when the joystick was
released. I used the 'fire' button to control the throttle which was set
to give a speed of 48KPH. It was 49KPH on the actual test.

At the last minute I was asked to 'throw together' a speed measuring
device so the vehicles speed could be measured at impact, which got me
thinking a bit. I ended up using two LDR's spaced 2 meters apart which
sensed the change in light level as the car passed over them. A 16F84
was connected to a dual comparator to calculate, display and store the
speed result.

The braking system was setup as fail safe, and in the event that the
cable shorted or snapped, the system would shut down and the brakes
would come on operated by a pneumatic ram. This proved to be useful as
the cable snapped after it became jammed after the impact.

I just thought I would pass this on as an unusual task for a PIC.

Got 3 more to do....

--
Best regards

Tony

Multimedia 16F84 Beginners PIC Tools.

http://www.picnpoke.com
Email picnpoke@cdi.com.au