Count bicycle rotation

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Hi Everyone,

I'm a beginner with Arduino and working on an exciting project where I want to integrate a sensor to count the number of rotations of a bicycle wheel accurately. However, I'm not sure where to start, and I’d appreciate your guidance!

Overview: I'm designing an interactive bicycle for kids, where the number of times the child pedals will be tracked and used for educational purposes. For this, I need a sensor that can count each complete rotation of the bicycle wheel.

What I Need Help With:

Which sensor would be the most accurate for counting rotations of a bicycle wheel?

Where to Mount the Sensor?

How would I connect the chosen sensor to an Arduino board?

Once the sensor is in place, how can I code the Arduino to accurately count the number of rotations and avoid false readings? For example, how can I ensure that only full wheel rotations are counted?

Any advice for improving the accuracy of the counting, avoiding noise in the signal, or optimizing the sensor placement and Arduino setup would be really helpful!

Since I am relatively new to Arduino and electronics, any detailed advice or example code would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

2

Hi, @mish_mash11
Welcome to the forum.

Have you Googled;

arduino bicycle odometer

There are many projects that can help with your situation.

Tom... :smiley: :+1: :coffee: :australia:

3

Thanks so much Tom for the speedy response.

I did read about odometer but I actually wanted to count the number of rotations rather than speed. But now I realize that you just have to change the code for it :face_exhaling::smiling_face_with_tear:

Your response has nonetheless pointed me in the right direction, so thanks a ton!

4

The odometer counts rotations and only uses wheel circumference and time to calculate distance and speed.

Most bicycle odometers use a strong (neodymium, rare earth) magnet (attached to a spoke) to create a pulse on a sensor (attached to the frame) to be read by the cycle computer/microcontroller. You will need power for the computer, which should supply enough power to the sensor to register the magnet passing. And... tie everything down, fast. Bicycles bump a lot, and in one wheel rotation, the whole project could get wrapped around the spinny things.

5

Thanks for the reply. But I'm not sure what you mean by this. Could you explain further?

6

Tie everything securely.

7

Oh alright. Will do