cruise control for atv

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Cruise Controls
Forum Discription: Cruise Control Settings, Tach Signal, VSS PPM(Vehicle Speed Signal Pulses Per Mile), Vacuum, Brake, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=121338
Printed Date: May 04, 2024 at 3:14 AM

Topic: cruise control for atv

Posted By: charlesx
Subject: cruise control for atv
Date Posted: April 14, 2010 at 9:11 AM

I have a quad bike that I use for watering our garden. I find it quite tiring to keep the speed of the quadbike constant. At times i find that some parts of the garden have more water sprayed on than others. I was advised to buy a cruise control unit to keep the speed of my quadbike constant but I find these units too expensive. Luckily I have a little experience in microprocessors and electronics so I thought of building a cruise control unit myself. If their's anyone that did this before and could give me advice on building my own unit it would be very much appreciated.

Thank you.

Replies:

Posted By: awdeclipse
Date Posted: April 14, 2010 at 10:18 AM

Assuming you are watering at low/safe speeds wouldn't it be much easier to implement some sort of throttle lock device?

The point here being that in a worst case event, the brakes of the quad can still slow or stop the vehicle minimizing safety concerns.

Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: April 14, 2010 at 11:24 AM

Or move here (Melb, Australia) - no watering allowed, depending on where you live. It's great - all that spare time!

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 14, 2010 at 2:43 PM

I have only one question, How Big is your Garden?

Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: April 14, 2010 at 7:03 PM

Or is it mobility impairment?

Then again - maybe for protection....

Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: April 14, 2010 at 8:42 PM

I know most of these units have a thumb throttle, If yours has a motorcycle type throttle, there is a device called a Vista Cruise, it simply locks the handgrip where it is. The throttle can still be turned when the device is locked. If you have a thumb throttle, not going to do you any good.

Posted By: charlesx
Date Posted: April 16, 2010 at 8:33 AM

It would be easier but I'm up for a challenge. June break is coming up and I wanted to build the cruise control system to keep me busy!

Posted By: KPierson
Date Posted: April 16, 2010 at 4:15 PM

It shouldn't be too hard to do with a uC.

Set up an external interupt and connect it to the vehicle speed sensor. If you don't have a sensor you can add a magnetic switch to the driveshaft (has to be the output shaft otherwise it won't work). For low speed applications it may require two magnets 180 degrees from each other.

Every time the switch pulses record the frequency - this is the speed you need to meet.

Use a PID loop with the VSS frequency set as the control input.

Then you'll need some sort of linear actuator that will be driven by the control output of the PID loop. The linear actuator will connect to the throttle.

Not a bad project to keep you busy for an evening.

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Kevin Pierson