Driving a Car with an iPhone (Part 2 - How To) Waterloo Labs Episode 03

For more awesome projects check out http://www.WaterlooLabs.com


In part 2 of this episode we give a detailed explanation of how we designed and implemented our control system that allows us to drive an Oldsmobile Delta 88 with an iPhone. This video provides more details about the motor assembly, the wireless communication and it also shows how we use potentiometers and optical encoders to get feedback for our system. For detailed procedures, schematics, and code available for download, check out our website and http://www.EngineerAwesome.com

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Waterloo
• labs
• iphone
• car
• labview
• crio
• remote
• control
• engineer
• awesome
• compact
• rio
• national
• instruments

[achordian]

Are you affiliated with a specific FIRST team?

(I see you cut down most of the FPGA code, removing the system watchdog and moving the digital module to slot 2. Glad to know it's not an *exact* copy of the FRC robot control system)

[WaterlooLabs]

@achordian We actually work for National Instruments, who provides part of the FIRST kits as well as support. We decided to build the code from the ground up so people without the FIRST codebase could play along too.

[jcorsaro]

Pretty cool project, what does it do when it looses signal or power, or if the tube connecting to the potentiometer breaks? Also needs a little bit better welding, those tack welds with a flux core mig welder won't hold up so well.

[WaterlooLabs]

@jcorsaro If it looses wireless signal there is a network watchdog that slams on the brakes.

With regard to my welding...its been a couple years :-). But there's not a lot of torque on these wrenches, its definitely strong enough for what we needed.

[boelkw]

awesome, i thought that looked like a cim/gearbox and speed controller from first haha. no breaker between battery and distro board?

why not use a rotary encoder instead of the optical encoder?

[WaterlooLabs]

Because the optical encoder cost $7 in parts

[therandomawsome]

So there is a app for everything, literally.

[jezse915]

I think is good, the quality of the camera used is good, it be better if you made it more interesting, with more facts or explaining how you did all that shit cus it looks very complicated... nice job!!!

[KC9RXB]

@WaterlooLabs So you spend $1000's of dollars in equipment to control the car but going out of your way to spend $33 more dollars on a rotary encoder would be outrageous right?

[simron67]

These guys are about to be millionaires...Mark my words.

[retaj09]

can you control the car wirelessly with toys remote control instead of wireless network? if so how far ur signals can reach before it losses connection with remote controler

[happyhappy2happy]

wickedly awesome , great feckin job!

[pielikesmymouth]

all i can say is..... i want one

[tubechao999]

Hey, does the electric systems in a car control gas and steering also?