Ok, I'm thinking about hand controls for the clutch on a stick shift car.
Sure, you could just get an automatic and not need a clutch - but what fun
is that?

Obviously a motor, a couple limit stops and a toggle switch would engage and
disengage the clutch, but I'm thinking of something a little more refined;
at least proportional control, possibly a force feedback system.

At the moment I'm thinking of using two pots, one for the control and one
for the position sense. The electronics could be all analog, just a couple
high power op-amps driving the motor so the feedback tracks the hand control
(I'm thinking a squeeze grip on the shifter lever). Although I'd probably
reach for a PIC instead (A/D both pots and PID the motor).

I have a couple thoughts about sensing the force applied to the clutch
linkage. The mechanics could be designed with a strain gage to actually
measure the force, but measuring the actuator current could be effective
also. It might also be possible to add some software that takes the PID
values and calculates the approximate load. That load data would be
translated back to a feedback actuator on the hand controls. Though I'm not
entirely sold on the usefulness of force feedback on a clutch.

Opinions, ideas and criticisms sought.

-Denny

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