My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

[Garauld]

Good feedback - thanks Fallon. The switches on my display are actually quite large and since they are used for lights, I would expect them to be tapped infrequently. I bought the RPi to play with and thought this would be a neat way to implement the switch controls. Have you used the RPi for reading analog data through a A/D chip?

 

[Fallon]

Good feedback - thanks Fallon. The switches on my display are actually quite large and since they are used for lights, I would expect them to be tapped infrequently. I bought the RPi to play with and thought this would be a neat way to implement the switch controls. Have you used the RPi for reading analog data through a A/D chip?

Ya, I had all the hardware working for an automated chicken coop. Relays on & off to run a linear actuator for the door. Temp, humidity & distance sensors for environmental & food/water level monitoring. Had it all working to at least proof of concept level on breadboard. I just ended up realizing while I'm an IT security engineer I'm not enough of a coder to safely put it on my home network & doing any remote control or monitoring over the Internet.

I ended up using some sensors & relays for my SmartThings based home automation system for most functions. At least they keep that system patched & updated regularly, which I wouldnt have always done. Daylight savings time ended up killing off the last of the chickens. The door closed an hour early & locked them out with the coyotes for the night.

Adafruit has some great tutorials. If you are just looking to learn on the stuff, an arduino may be better. It's a lot dumber of a device, but also going to be more reliable as a result. There isnt all the overhead (or benefits) of a full on PC OS running that you need to maintain.

 

[Fallon]

There are tons of relay options out there on Amazon, eBay & the usual sources.

Adafruit Power Relay FeatherWing ID: 3191 - $9.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

RASPBERRY PI All About controlling Relay Boards for Home Automation - YouTube

For just running lights, it will be more of a control thing than actually needing to read anything. As you are controlling the relay, you'll know if it's on or off & won't need to read anything to figure that out. Driving the lines high/low may be a bit backwards vs the relay behavior depending on how you wire the relays up & how your brain is wired.

It's been a while, but I'm guessing most of those relays are only good for a couple amps tops. Probably not enough to run lights, but enough to run proper automotive type relays. Just fuse everything properly.

 

[Garauld]

I'm guessing most of those relays are only good for a couple amps tops

-> that's not a good guess. The relays on the SainSmart relay module are good for 10A. The module has 16 relays which I paid $13 delivered for. HTF can they make money on those, I dunno. :confused2:

 

[Garauld]

I put on a set of my winter gloves and tried to activate the touchscreen switches on my official RPi display- no lucky. NBD. I still plan to try it out for now on Snowzer. I see there are several 7" resistive displays available for almost the same price ($70). Maybe I'll buy one down the road and try it. I may also add some buttons to control the wiper motor.

 

[texasranger556]

You could add a stylus type device somewhere on your dash to activate the buttons with gloves on. I've made them out of the ESD foam that integrated circuits come packaged with.

Once it gets warm in the cab you can take your gloves off!

The other option is a rotary encoder or multi use buttons along the edge of the screen.

 

[Garauld]

Heat? :thumbsup: Maybe later... I kept the blower and heater core from the Toyota so I could readily add that at some time...

 

[Fallon]

Tough Outdoors Winter Snow & Ski Gloves - Designed for Skiing, Snowboarding, Shredding, Shoveling & Snowballs - Waterproof & Windproof Nylon Shell & Synthetic Leather Palm - Fits Men, Women and Kids https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KSJVKCY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FVEwEb64RBEX3

There are tons of them out there now. I got a pair of little to no insulation nice soft leather ones for Christmass. Surprised me how well they work with my phone.

 

[Garauld]

I've been working on the storage/tool boxes at the rear. I still need to add the magnetic catches, gaskets and pulls. I was thinking of adding an engine turned finish to the sides - think it would look sweet?

 

[PILOON]

Gee, you are taking t his build to the nth degree but I admire the workmanship.
Keep on going.

I wish I was as dedicated as U are.