Thread: electromechanical P-R-N-D development HELP!!!

Originally Posted by Bugbyte

I don't think that the Arduino requires a computer except to program it. After that, I THINK that you can simply power up the board and use it as you wish.

It appears that the linear actuator you linked to has a potentiometer on it. If the arduino can measure the resistance (I think this can be done), then you should be able to program the Arduino to move the actuator to a certain position based on a button that is pushed.

I've gotten to play with them and they do operate entirely independently of the computer (if programed to do so). You also can measure resistance using the analog inputs and the internal pullup resistors, then it's just a matter of comparing voltages. I measure thermistors that way for temperature.

from what I'm gathering, the arduino is a good tool for this job, I'm going to order one & the actuator & see how far I can get with programming it, I'm sure with enough effort I can get this sorted & working...

I think I kinda need the actuator in place anyway just to really program it, cause I guess I'll need reference values for each of the positions anyway...

guys, thanks again for the help so far, hopefully others can take advantage of this too, how many would rather have a keyboard or a display or even something else where there ancient mechanical shifter may be?... the way it looks, an actuator & the board to control it isn't much more than $200... figuring out how to program it, guess that's the key to tie it all togeather, but once a program is written then it could be used as a template for anyone I think, just have to input there position values I guess, if I'm picturing this right...

oh, & tony g thanks for that info, but from what I've seen, even with handicap options, they are extremely expensive, I've seen stuff over $1,000 but nothing really under...

I anxiously await the results of your project!

Which actuator are you going with? I could pick up a board and actuator as well and toss my hat into the ring.

My goal was to eliminate the stalk sticking up out of the console and use that space for something else (not sure what yet, but something cool). I also thought that if something went wrong and the actuator failed for whatever reason, that I could pop off the console cover and shift it manually.

More or less a manual redundant system. If I do it that way, I'll also keep my "press brake to shift" mechanism.

press brake to shift can be done electrically, no need to keep the mechanical lockout... the shifter itself kills tons of space in the console...

I might order tonight & I'll show you the link... got a bit better price than the first I showed...

Looks cool! Can't wait to see the results.

I ordered everything from http://www.trossenrobotics.com/

I ordered a 4" stroke actuator with built in pot. 4" is more than enough for prnd but if you want to go through 3-2-1 also then get the 6"...



I ordered the ardino board & I also ordered there 3 position programable actuator positioning thing, this

initially I will use the 3 position controller to select reverse, neutral & drive, then park can just be an override to full extension with the limit switch. this little device should make it that I can install & set up the electric shifter to be completely functional in a matter of a few hours. then, I have the ardino to play with, if I can get the ardino to do more, like sense a variable resistor to allow gear selection & sense vehicle movement for lockout etc... then great, but worse case no matter what I'll still have the simple 3 position controller & an override for park as a usable solution until if/when I complete the ardino for the task.

also, I found these actuators which are about $25 cheaper than the $165 at the robotics place, but they had everything else I needed & bundled shipping & ease, so I just ordered everything from t robotics