How-to: building a GPS-based PSE valve controller for passing track sound checks
11-11-2016, 01:20 PM
#137
Rennlist Member
Here's an early version of the one I'm making for Ed. It's hardware and software compatible with the original, but uses a custom pcb board with only the components needed, which cuts down on costs and allows it all to fit in a box about 2.5 inches square. Happy to make the board design and details available, though it includes surface mounted parts, so only hardcore DIYers need apply.
Ed liked the idea of an external GPS antenna rather than putting the box out in the open, and I have to say the antenna wart thing picks up the signal surprisingly well even just sitting in the cabin, so there doesn't seem to be a need to put it on the roof as I originally thought.
Although the original software works on this version, I started from scratch (with different GPS library) because I found the Adafruit library and examples hard to work with (hats off the Mech33 for making it work!), and really wanted to program in the ability to select quiet zones on the fly for whatever track he ends up on. Will post that up too once I'm happy with it.
I'm curious if one sound booth is the norm, or if many tracks have 2 or more sensors? At some point, it's probably not worth doing this if you have to run most of the track in quiet mode anyway, but trying to figure out if it's worth the complexity to deal with multiple quiet zones, especially if it has an always-quiet and always-loud option?
Ed liked the idea of an external GPS antenna rather than putting the box out in the open, and I have to say the antenna wart thing picks up the signal surprisingly well even just sitting in the cabin, so there doesn't seem to be a need to put it on the roof as I originally thought.
Although the original software works on this version, I started from scratch (with different GPS library) because I found the Adafruit library and examples hard to work with (hats off the Mech33 for making it work!), and really wanted to program in the ability to select quiet zones on the fly for whatever track he ends up on. Will post that up too once I'm happy with it.
I'm curious if one sound booth is the norm, or if many tracks have 2 or more sensors? At some point, it's probably not worth doing this if you have to run most of the track in quiet mode anyway, but trying to figure out if it's worth the complexity to deal with multiple quiet zones, especially if it has an always-quiet and always-loud option?
11-11-2016, 02:45 PM
#138
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Here's an early version of the one I'm making for Ed. It's hardware and software compatible with the original, but uses a custom pcb board with only the components needed, which cuts down on costs and allows it all to fit in a box about 2.5 inches square. Happy to make the board design and details available, though it includes surface mounted parts, so only hardcore DIYers need apply.
Ed liked the idea of an external GPS antenna rather than putting the box out in the open, and I have to say the antenna wart thing picks up the signal surprisingly well even just sitting in the cabin, so there doesn't seem to be a need to put it on the roof as I originally thought.
Although the original software works on this version, I started from scratch (with different GPS library) because I found the Adafruit library and examples hard to work with (hats off the Mech33 for making it work!), and really wanted to program in the ability to select quiet zones on the fly for whatever track he ends up on. Will post that up too once I'm happy with it.
I'm curious if one sound booth is the norm, or if many tracks have 2 or more sensors? At some point, it's probably not worth doing this if you have to run most of the track in quiet mode anyway, but trying to figure out if it's worth the complexity to deal with multiple quiet zones, especially if it has an always-quiet and always-loud option?
Ed liked the idea of an external GPS antenna rather than putting the box out in the open, and I have to say the antenna wart thing picks up the signal surprisingly well even just sitting in the cabin, so there doesn't seem to be a need to put it on the roof as I originally thought.
Although the original software works on this version, I started from scratch (with different GPS library) because I found the Adafruit library and examples hard to work with (hats off the Mech33 for making it work!), and really wanted to program in the ability to select quiet zones on the fly for whatever track he ends up on. Will post that up too once I'm happy with it.
I'm curious if one sound booth is the norm, or if many tracks have 2 or more sensors? At some point, it's probably not worth doing this if you have to run most of the track in quiet mode anyway, but trying to figure out if it's worth the complexity to deal with multiple quiet zones, especially if it has an always-quiet and always-loud option?
I had toyed with the idea of making a custom PCB to miniaturize everything, but the real benefit would be making a completely ready to go box that folks could just buy, which would then entail an entire product design really (building the PCBs, building an enclosure, getting custom cables made, etc.). Fun project, but just not in my available time budget at the moment...
Are you planning on making runs of the PCBs and selling them, or perhaps transferring the effort to a company interested in making them?
I had planned to update the firmware to include sound booth locations for all of the local bay area tracks, but realistically Laguna Seca is the main challenge. This database could be expanded as large as one would like, with a relatively simple determination of location of the device at initial GPS lock, at which point it could pull the closest track's sound booth coordinates for that session's use.
The general ability to program in new locations by walking a track and clicking a button is a cool idea, though some work to make sure you can't accidentally do that when handling the device in normal use is probably needed.
11-11-2016, 06:04 PM
#139
Rennlist Member
Nice work Tom! Can you post some pictures of the assembled board?
I had toyed with the idea of making a custom PCB to miniaturize everything, but the real benefit would be making a completely ready to go box that folks could just buy, which would then entail an entire product design really (building the PCBs, building an enclosure, getting custom cables made, etc.). Fun project, but just not in my available time budget at the moment...
Are you planning on making runs of the PCBs and selling them, or perhaps transferring the effort to a company interested in making them?
I had planned to update the firmware to include sound booth locations for all of the local bay area tracks, but realistically Laguna Seca is the main challenge. This database could be expanded as large as one would like, with a relatively simple determination of location of the device at initial GPS lock, at which point it could pull the closest track's sound booth coordinates for that session's use.
The general ability to program in new locations by walking a track and clicking a button is a cool idea, though some work to make sure you can't accidentally do that when handling the device in normal use is probably needed.
I had toyed with the idea of making a custom PCB to miniaturize everything, but the real benefit would be making a completely ready to go box that folks could just buy, which would then entail an entire product design really (building the PCBs, building an enclosure, getting custom cables made, etc.). Fun project, but just not in my available time budget at the moment...
Are you planning on making runs of the PCBs and selling them, or perhaps transferring the effort to a company interested in making them?
I had planned to update the firmware to include sound booth locations for all of the local bay area tracks, but realistically Laguna Seca is the main challenge. This database could be expanded as large as one would like, with a relatively simple determination of location of the device at initial GPS lock, at which point it could pull the closest track's sound booth coordinates for that session's use.
The general ability to program in new locations by walking a track and clicking a button is a cool idea, though some work to make sure you can't accidentally do that when handling the device in normal use is probably needed.
I'm still experimenting with the button logistics. One way is how you said, i.e., press a button at a specific location and create a quiet zone radius around that point. The down side to that is having a fixed radius around the point. I actually have a pot on the board so you could increase/decrease the size of the quiet zone, but then thought of another approach where you just hold the button down on the portion of the track where you want the car to be quiet. After you do that, the car would know to go quiet when you pass through that portion of the track. Trying to perfect that now...
Funny you mention protecting the button. Ed and I were talking about that yesterday. We thought about adding a jeopardy-style button on a plug-in cord, so you could unplug when not in use, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated. Ed's idea was to just put a little clip on the button so it can't go down. I'm thinking I can find some tactile switches that will make it highly unlikely they'd get depressed unintentionally... We'll see...
11-11-2016, 06:31 PM
#140
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
I'm still making changes to the board but will post it "as is" shortly. I am modifying it here and there to correct a few mistakes and make the panel inputs/outputs more logical. It's probably more work than it's worth but a fun project. As for what do when I'm done, I haven't really thought that far ahead. I was just making one for Ed and got a little carried away...
I'm still experimenting with the button logistics. One way is how you said, i.e., press a button at a specific location and create a quiet zone radius around that point. The down side to that is having a fixed radius around the point. I actually have a pot on the board so you could increase/decrease the size of the quiet zone, but then thought of another approach where you just hold the button down on the portion of the track where you want the car to be quiet. After you do that, the car would know to go quiet when you pass through that portion of the track. Trying to perfect that now...
Funny you mention protecting the button. Ed and I were talking about that yesterday. We thought about adding a jeopardy-style button on a plug-in cord, so you could unplug when not in use, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated. Ed's idea was to just put a little clip on the button so it can't go down. I'm thinking I can find some tactile switches that will make it highly unlikely they'd get depressed unintentionally... We'll see...
I'm still experimenting with the button logistics. One way is how you said, i.e., press a button at a specific location and create a quiet zone radius around that point. The down side to that is having a fixed radius around the point. I actually have a pot on the board so you could increase/decrease the size of the quiet zone, but then thought of another approach where you just hold the button down on the portion of the track where you want the car to be quiet. After you do that, the car would know to go quiet when you pass through that portion of the track. Trying to perfect that now...
Funny you mention protecting the button. Ed and I were talking about that yesterday. We thought about adding a jeopardy-style button on a plug-in cord, so you could unplug when not in use, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated. Ed's idea was to just put a little clip on the button so it can't go down. I'm thinking I can find some tactile switches that will make it highly unlikely they'd get depressed unintentionally... We'll see...
Lots of little user interaction bits to work out...I'd definitely add a nice big bright LED that indicates "quiet mode" if you've got space.
11-11-2016, 06:52 PM
#141
Rennlist Member
The Red LED in the picture is tied directly to the relay's control line, so it's on when the car is quiet, though it gets washed out in the sun -- need to fix that...
11-11-2016, 07:57 PM
#142
So I was at Laguna last sunday getting on the gas at T5 around 5k rpm and still didn't get flagged. A few times i was 6k plus. Sport button off but in a bit of traffic. No meatball. 92db day. So my question is when is it really too loud? On if the HOD guys said sunny days the sound seems to not trip the meter as badly as when it's cold / overcast.
I still want a box so I can go ***** out.
How much to build me a box? I'll pay you and buy materials.
I still want a box so I can go ***** out.
How much to build me a box? I'll pay you and buy materials.
11-11-2016, 08:44 PM
#143
Rennlist Member
Here's a picture inside the box. The wires are mostly there to bypass mistakes and/or bad footprints on the board. My hope is to eliminate all of the wiring (other than the GPS antenna jumper) on the next iteration. Also posting a link to the board itself, which I shared via OSH.
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/4NVbYN15
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/4NVbYN15
11-13-2016, 11:28 PM
#144
Damn!!!!!
11-14-2016, 01:46 AM
#145
Nordschleife Master
Thread Starter
Here's a picture inside the box. The wires are mostly there to bypass mistakes and/or bad footprints on the board. My hope is to eliminate all of the wiring (other than the GPS antenna jumper) on the next iteration. Also posting a link to the board itself, which I shared via OSH.
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/4NVbYN15
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/4NVbYN15
12-22-2016, 01:17 PM
#146
Rennlist Member
I had an interesting thought; connect this (wirelessly) to a TPC-Racing DSC and you could pre-adjust your PASM dampers on a turn-by-turn basis!
probably overkill for most (if not all) of us, but would be interesting customization for a professional race team!
Happy Holidays
probably overkill for most (if not all) of us, but would be interesting customization for a professional race team!
Happy Holidays
01-17-2017, 10:22 AM
#147
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Here's a picture inside the box. The wires are mostly there to bypass mistakes and/or bad footprints on the board. My hope is to eliminate all of the wiring (other than the GPS antenna jumper) on the next iteration. Also posting a link to the board itself, which I shared via OSH.
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/4NVbYN15
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/4NVbYN15
Looks real interesting and I would like to get one. Will you make it available to others ?
Thanks.
04-15-2017, 04:44 PM
#150
Rennlist Member
Just a quick follow up on this new GPS based exhaust valve controller
I was at the track this week and this mini sized controller worked like a charm!!
It has a number of programmable features ( none of which I needed to use)
It was so easy I didn't even have to turn it on .. Had it all plugged in before I left to the track and WOW it worked like a charm !! It's smaller than a cigarette box
I placed it on top of the smokers package console cover, but that was just to see the lights were working and to show it off a little
Hi Five Tom !! Great job !
I am lovin' it
It has a number of programmable features ( none of which I needed to use)
It was so easy I didn't even have to turn it on .. Had it all plugged in before I left to the track and WOW it worked like a charm !! It's smaller than a cigarette box
I placed it on top of the smokers package console cover, but that was just to see the lights were working and to show it off a little
Hi Five Tom !! Great job !
I am lovin' it