PRND321 automobile shifting by linear actuator - shifter replacement

Using Arduino Project Guidance
1

Hello,

(I've searched the Forum and have not found any related posts)

Looking to create a automobile shifter for an automatic transmission PRND321 to replace a shifter/cable with a specific linear actuator to directly actuate the selector lever on the transmission.

Which Arduino would be best to control this actuator and what is the best way to learn about and how to program Arduino?

I've done other electronic/programing things so have some familiarity but nothing in Arduino yet - please treat me like a total NOOB even though I know some stuff I don't know what I don't know.

Utilizing inputs like speed and brake will be important

  1. want to ensure brake is pressed before shifting out of Park
  2. speed to be 0 before shifting from Drive to Reverse.

The specific actuator I will use is this one. It has position feedback. Actuonix P16-50-64-12-P

That actuator manufacturer offers a control board that accepts inputs USB, voltage, current, RC servo and PWM - control board - Linear Actuator Control Board

I am familiar with one commercial product like this ELECTRIC SHIFT KIT It uses this specific actuator (that's why I chose it) and I'd like to DIY it for satisfaction and that I have 5 vehicles that could use it so the potential cost savings are also a driver.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

2

Back at you. Welcome to the fora.

This seems like a nice project and the actuator looks like this other guys made it work, so why not you?

What make and model automobile are you installing this on? Have you found anything yet that will help you know what the accelerator and brake pedals are up to, and the speed of the vehicle?

The automobile is a harsh environment for electronics, so add power supply issues to what you may not know enough about.

As for learning Arduino, you could start at the beginning with a commercial kit of parts, there are a number and not all of them are terribly spendy.

Or you could learn to wrangle the online simulator, which is nice for learning coding stuff as the parts are free, can't be damaged or arrive dead and generally perform perfectly.

The IDE is full of examples, you could start by turning on and off LEDs with pushbuttons kinda thing.

Google and find 5 to ten websites for beginners learning Arduino. Spend 5 or ten minutes with each until you find something that matches your learning style. That's an hour or so, at the end of which time you will already have learned a great deal.

Ppl like the Iced Coffee guy. I prefer the young woman who makes everything fun all the time. But over any video, my preference is for just reading and following links.

Read on these fora. I learn something every day. Read a thread until you know it is way over your head or way too simple or a topic you just aren't excited about. Read the ones that make the cut very carefully, including read read reading of the code, line by line.

No good writer of anything written is not also widely read.

a7

3

Thanks for the reply

Subaru 4EAT transmission - various models....and I wouldn't expect the vehicle to make a difference...just having the actuator stop at 5 lengths is the fundamental project

Accelerator position not needed

Brake can be set up with a switch NO or NC

Brake is a 5v pulse at 5 or 6 pulses per revolution of the wheel - either read from the wheel sensor or the transmission.

...I'll check the learning procedure you suggested.

Am hoping someone with Arduino linear actuator experience chimes in an suggests what specific things to learn might be most useful. I bet Arduino can go so many different directions so having a project specific path would be efficient.

4

In the related topics section below these two showed up...7 and 4 years ago...neither got a reply...thanx to alto777 were already ahead! :slight_smile:

5

I see I failed to link to the IMO best simulator:

It's not too hard to use, and the documentation leads to little sketches that demonstrate coding for the parts that are available.

One part it has is a regular r/c servo, which can be used as a proxy for the linear actuator.

I can't say regular servo PWM would be the best use of the control board you mentioned, but plenty of ppl have done stuff with linear actuators using the servo interface.

Here's a wokwi simulation that might be worth reading closely:

HTH

a7

6

Thanks, that is SUPER helpful