Steering angle sensor

[Chump]

I'm looking to make a steering angle sensor for my data acquisition
system in my race car. I basically need to translate the movement of
the steering wheel into voltage read by the logger unit.

The logger provides a 5v reference signal so I figured I could send
that signal through a potentiometer then back to the unit.

most commerical units available ($$$) use a system of pulleys driven
off of the movement of the steering shaft itself.

some questions -

what type of pot would be good for this application. I understand
audio ones are not linear enough?

Anyone have any idea where I can get different sized pulleys to go on
the end of the pot?

any other tips advice or different ways of doing it?

thanks!

Jason

 

[Al]

In article <edb4ee52.0410221804.26461908@posting.google.com>,
chump@pobox.com (Chump) wrote:

I'm looking to make a steering angle sensor for my data acquisition
system in my race car. I basically need to translate the movement of
the steering wheel into voltage read by the logger unit.

The logger provides a 5v reference signal so I figured I could send
that signal through a potentiometer then back to the unit.

most commerical units available ($$$) use a system of pulleys driven
off of the movement of the steering shaft itself.

some questions -

what type of pot would be good for this application. I understand
audio ones are not linear enough?

Anyone have any idea where I can get different sized pulleys to go on
the end of the pot?

any other tips advice or different ways of doing it?

thanks!

Jason

Try this. Print out a strip of paper with alternating black bars on it.
It should be long enough to fit around your shaft. You need two sets of
bars which are shifted by 90 deg from each other.

You use two optical sensors to detect the bars as they pass under them.
You count the transistion to find out where you are with respect to your
zero or rest point. You use the phase differences between the two sets
of bars to determine direction of rotation.

The only physical things you need to do are to attache the paper strip
to the shaft and to affix the sensor securely. There will be no physical
interference between your shaft and a complex mechanical system of
pulleys, therefore it will be safe.

Oh, and the thickness of the bars will depend upon the resolution you
need.

Al

 

[John Fields]

On 22 Oct 2004 19:04:34 -0700, chump@pobox.com (Chump) wrote:

I'm looking to make a steering angle sensor for my data acquisition
system in my race car. I basically need to translate the movement of
the steering wheel into voltage read by the logger unit.

The logger provides a 5v reference signal so I figured I could send
that signal through a potentiometer then back to the unit.

most commerical units available ($$$) use a system of pulleys driven
off of the movement of the steering shaft itself.

some questions -

what type of pot would be good for this application. I understand
audio ones are not linear enough?

---
To get the reliability you need you'll probably have to go to an
environmentally sealed precision pot which can stand to live in an
automotive environment.

Bourns comes to mind, and you might want to check

http://www.bourns.com/components.aspx?cmsphid=7631383|7163299|3132787

for some likely candidates.
---

Anyone have any idea where I can get different sized pulleys to go on
the end of the pot?

---
http://www.wmberg.com/
---

any other tips advice or different ways of doing it?

---
Sure...

--
John Fields

 

[tango4]

Look at linear displacement sensors ( LVDT or hall effect). Accuracy down to
tenths of a millimeter. 0 - 5volt output. Fitted with ball ends so you can
link one to a tie rod or the main steering arm quite easily.

Ian

http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/viewSelectedArticle.asp?strArticleId=56940&strSite=MDSite&catId=0


"Chump" <chump@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:edb4ee52.0410221804.26461908@posting.google.com...

I'm looking to make a steering angle sensor for my data acquisition
system in my race car. I basically need to translate the movement of
the steering wheel into voltage read by the logger unit.

The logger provides a 5v reference signal so I figured I could send
that signal through a potentiometer then back to the unit.

most commerical units available ($$$) use a system of pulleys driven
off of the movement of the steering shaft itself.

some questions -

what type of pot would be good for this application. I understand
audio ones are not linear enough?

Anyone have any idea where I can get different sized pulleys to go on
the end of the pot?

any other tips advice or different ways of doing it?

thanks!

Jason

 

[Phil Hobbs]

tango4 wrote:

Look at linear displacement sensors ( LVDT or hall effect). Accuracy down to
tenths of a millimeter. 0 - 5volt output. Fitted with ball ends so you can
link one to a tie rod or the main steering arm quite easily.

Ian

http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/viewSelectedArticle.asp?strArticleId=56940&strSite=MDSite&catId=0


"Chump" <chump@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:edb4ee52.0410221804.26461908@posting.google.com...


I'm looking to make a steering angle sensor for my data acquisition
system in my race car. I basically need to translate the movement of
the steering wheel into voltage read by the logger unit.

The logger provides a 5v reference signal so I figured I could send
that signal through a potentiometer then back to the unit.

most commerical units available ($$$) use a system of pulleys driven
off of the movement of the steering shaft itself.

some questions -

what type of pot would be good for this application. I understand
audio ones are not linear enough?

Anyone have any idea where I can get different sized pulleys to go on
the end of the pot?

any other tips advice or different ways of doing it?

thanks!

Jason






LVDTs are much better than 0.1 mm--I've used them below 1 um in

short-time measurements.

Cheers,

Phil Hobbs