Project Time, tips and suggestions
 

Okay boys I need some opinions.

I need to come up with a project that I can do for my Electrical Engineering Design class. I was thinking that I can do two things, both of them need to be complex enough that they utilize some form of programming, whether that be FPGA or Microcontroller it doesn't matter it just cannot be "I wired a relay in".

My two ideas are..

1) custom configurable fog light. A plate of LED's placed in the stock fog light location that has configurable formations of lights and blink patterns such as, blinking when pressed, constant on, formula 1 style like can be purchased online, Z shape, inverse Z, solid square, etc.

2) Trying to setup the LED taillights to light more of the lights based on brake pressure, moving from the top down, moving from the bottom up, moving outward from the center etc.

Has anyone attempted either of these (particularly the second one as I don't have a spare set of taillights to experiment on how they are wired currently)? How did you power your microcontroller? I'm thinking a voltage regulator? I could use an RPi as well, maybe use Tunerstudio to monitor brake sensor from ECU? or just steal signal from the brake signal? I'm guessing the ECU monitors brake pressure already?


Any thoughts or recommendations would be much appreciated :)



UPDATE:

Alright boys and girls,

I've got a progress update for you,

the neopixel matrix that I selected for this project works phenomenally. I have some buck converters turning down the 12 volts from the battery to the 5 volts and 6 amps (max) that I need to run all of the components of this circuit that I have constructed in a test circuit.

The circuit is running an ATMega328p on an innovation board. And functions to inputs from the turn signals, brake lights, caution lights, and reverse light. Each function has several programmable states.

The programmable states are:
-2 modes for turn signals, with a matching caution light response for each mode
-4 modes for brake light/fog light shape
-4 modes for brake light/fog light flash pattern (or solid)
-5 modes for reverse light operation (shape) with flash pattern tied to brake pattern for now for simplicity mostly.
-And a super illegal and will never be used on the road, animation that is red and blue that looks like police lights for car shows because why not.

All of these modes are programmable using the IR remote that is used for my head unit already. Programmed the microcontroller to respond to inputs from the "rear screen" set of buttons from the head unit, which aren't used in a Z.

All I've got left is:
- Bluetooth programmability so that I can update the code on the fly, this would be for if I decided I wanted a new shape, pattern, different colors, more animations, etc.
-Soldering to a innovation board without header pins, I bought two 328P innovation boards and put a header pin on one for testing and will solder directly to the contacts for the final product.
-And the install of course. Size is not going to be an issue so I'm just going to have to make sure I don't shatter the stock lens when I remove it and safely secure everything inside the space inside the housing. Water getting in is my main concern.

Photos of current progress below in attachments, beware there are a few, not the best quality but you get the idea.

KBC

If you are planning on opening up the taillights, it can not be done without destroying the taillight.

I've got a better project for you...

Automatic deploying Duck Tail. You can tap into the sensor on the rear half-shaft for speed or add a second hall effect sensor. You can add a stepper motor or a super strong hobby motor to deploy it. You could use an air actuator too bat that's not as good for a EE. If you want to get real fancy, add another channel for downforce (pitch) control.

Get an ME to design the mechanism and you do the electrical. The 2 of you can do the project for separate classes and have something really cool to put on your resume when you look for that 1st job.

Heck you can even put some load cells in it to provide a down force and drag readout inside the cockpit. You might even be able to get $$$ or free parts if you approached some of the body kit manufactures.

Now that would be cool!

I'm not sure either of your options would be legal but both sound like good ideas. I'd go with the pressure-sensitive brake light, if it were me, but use the HMSL instead of the taillights.

Wiring diagrams, wire colors, harness routing, etc are available in the FSM (link in my sig).

My guess is that any LED arrays in a car will be PCB-mounted and access to individual LEDs will be difficult. FSM can be weak on info for internals of "not servicable" parts (eg, tail lamp assemblies) but worth looking.

Alternate idea, create a "fake out" box for the occupancy sensor in the passenger seat. Should have selector switch for seat empty, child, and adult.

I am a part of the Forumla SAE team here at the University of Nebraska-Lincolna and one thing we are hoping to accomplish next year is some sort of active aero such as you are describing. Many teams run large wings but we don't have a wind tunnel to really test them and the judges don't like hearing "we made a wing to look cool" but an active aero system that we can prove improves braking distance is justifiable.

As for the other responses. Yeah I don't want to destroy my tailights so that's out. So I'm thinking I'll go ahead with the custom fog light design. Because I can demo the design not installed in the Z with Voltage regulator and supply 12V from a DC. Source and make sure it works and get graded on it's then the last part will be wiring and installing the microcontroller somewhere and then running that power to the light.

I will post up in here when I make some progress into the matter :)

Bump because I didn't know editing original post would not bump :)

Nice work :tup:

I saw the Nebraska 'N' there in your photos. Could you do a Longhorns Bevo logo? :)

This thread has me reminiscing about my own EE design projects in school. Good times!

Yessir,

The Neopixel matrix that I'm using is programmable for any design. You just draw it with a basic set of pixel selections. IE matrix is an 8x8 grid and I want 0,4 to be red and 1,6 to be blue and that location changes :) I'll see what I can whip up for fun here in the next few days. Project kinda got put on the back burner with finals coming but now that they are over I've got some free time

KBC