Alan Bond's NEW Marine Engine Sound Unit (take 2)

CONTINUED WORK IN PROGRESS - Upgrading to the 20X2 PICAXE chip which features 11 A to D converters and runs at 64MHz, has now allowed me to set all parameters by potentiometer and at any time during operation, which is far more user friendly than the previous system. Tickover, topspeed, number of cylinders and engine "voice" or character can all be adjusted. A horn sound (interrupts the engine) has also been included. In addition, two more potentiometers allow the user to adjust the gain of the unit to match the stick "span" of the transmitter (to utilise the full dynamic range of the sound unit) and set the idle time-out - ie how long the engine idles prior to stopping (5 to 35 secs or infinite). A push button sets neutral to match the boat's ESC (this works over the entire 1 to 2mSec input signal range so 70/30 offset car controllers or forward only systems are accomodated). The unit will also accept an input from a second throttle on twin engined boats and the sound will follow whichever of the two throttles has the higher setting. More program space in the20X2 PICAXE chips has allowed the cylinder count to be extended from 6 to 8, but 12 or more is possible and currently 6 engine types ("voices") are available - the final number limited only by my own imagination, experimentation and patience! In the video a spare channel is used to start/stop the engine - otherwise it auto starts on throttle opening and stops after a user defined period idling in neutral. The same channel is also used to sound a (pitch adjutable) horn. Single/twin throttle, auto/manual stop/start and horn options (any combination) are selected by three jumper links. The final unit will also have a volume control. THE ENGINE AND HORN SOUNDS ARE NOT FINALISED YET, BUT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SCOPE OF USER CUSTOMISATION POSSIBLE. Your comments are welcomed at this stage !

Update 26/07/10: As I explained yesterday to a visitor at the boat show where I was demonstrating this, you DON'T have to house this speaker cabinet in your boat - the hull and deck of your boat will in more than likely create a far superior bass reflex cabinet for the recommended 75mm 10W 8 ohm loudspeaker.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• srcmbc
• marine
• engine
• sound
• simulator
• picaxe
• technobots

[respectoz]

I did not know the foreign market. Maybe there are already existing sound modules?

[srcmbc]

@respectoz - just Google "Technobots Model Engine Sound Effects" to find my original sound unit. The link I gave earlier describes a module you temporarily attach to alter all the engine parameters including a choice of different characters or 'voices'. This module will be available soon.

[srcmbc]

@respectoz - factors beyond my control continue to delay introduction of this project as a commercially available item. But you may be interested to see an upgrade to the original sound unit which allows a hand held programming unit to upload all the 'voices' you see here plus adjust tickover, top speed, number of cylinders, idling time-out etc

Check out the SRCMBC web site and find it under Hints and Tips/Alan's Electrics/Sound Units

[srcmbc]

@clauss2210 - prototype hardware is now finalised (including volume control which was not shown here). An available time slot to lay out PCB and define packaging occurs during September. In the meantime software 'tweaking' of the "voices" continues. Final product ought to be available sometime during the autumn quarter and will be supplied by Technobots, who already sell the entry level version of this - and are able to ship worldwide.

[lrover03]

Nice board. Very realistic! :-D

[respectoz]

Please tell me where I can buy this product? and whether there are analogues of similar?on my RC 6x6 truck

[claus2210]

...that is what I was looking for. Any chance to buy one and ship it to Germany?

[wantapgt]

Awesome!