Im looking for something like SwitchBot but tiny enough it can stick onto a remote. This mini SwitchBot would press button when I am close enough to some sensor plugged into 12V
To emulate a SwitchBot, you will need a small motor, a small battery and an ESP. Simple enough.
So here you might use a PIR sensor with an ESP to send a message to your micro-switchbot.
I assume this is for a device to turn on the TV when you enter the hallway, so it is ready for you while you get a beer.
1 Like
Actually its for hands free tailgate. If I am outside with my hands full I have to press a button on key fob to open the trunk. I would like to just stand behind the trunk for a few seconds and the sensor inside the trunk will sense a SwitchBot is close by and tell it to press the key fob button
There are many other buttons I would like to press from far away but the buttons are less than 1"x1" hence a giant 3" by 2" rectangle switchbot wont fit nor is aesthetically pleasing.
A strategically placed break beam sensor can detect your presence as well. That may be the easier solution.
A PIR motion sensor is another possible strategy.
Of course you should be aware that it will open the trunk not just for you, but for anyone that's in the area. And you have to remember in advance to get your keyfob in a place where the button can be pressed.
The button pressing is easy; use a servo.
Well the trunk can only be opened with either key fob or button in car. Without keyfob in proximity and the car turned off, the button in car won't work so the only way is to attach a small button presser onto the key fob that can somehow pair to the break sensor on the car to detect that I am right behind the trunk. The car will unlock from comfort access so the trunk can be opened and the sensor will somehow tell the button presser to press
That sounds like a fun project. Do you know what the electrical system is like in a vehicle and how foreign it is to microprocessors. Here is a good read:
There is a good app note AN2689 by ST on automotive electronics. reading it will help you a lot.
https://www.st.com/resource/en/application_note/cd00181783-protection-of-automotive-electronics-from-electrical-hazards-guidelines-for-design-and-component-selection-stmicroelectronics.pdf
Also take a look at this: Distilled Automotive Electronics Design | Analog Devices
So you're going to have a small motor, an actuator, and an Arduino hanging off your keyfob. And you'll carry this all in your pocket? Seems like this will make the keyfob a bit unwieldy.
Can you mount an additional fob inside the vehicle somewhere and trigger that one instead?
LOL and here I was thinking of a garage, where the car is parked, with a break beam sensor at a fixed location (not attached to the car but to the garage wall or so).
As otherwise anyone standing behind the car in a parking lot would be able to open it.
If the car is not unlocked, nobody can open the trunk with this distance sensor because my car has comfort access walk away lock which puts the car into "sleep mode" deactivating all controls until the car is unlocked by approaching. That way I walk to the trunk, comfort access will unlock car, I put something close to the distance sensor, triggers the button presser inside on the driver door, when I leave i do the same which triggers button presser to hold the button to close the trunk, walk away locks the car
Can I interrupt here for a moment?
OP, Exactly what are you trying to achieve with this gadget ?
NOT HOW, but WHAT.
Forget the trunk, buttons, actuators, key fobs etc.. comfort zoe and other things…
My car was not equipped and the only hack I could think of is a distance sensor and button presser
I have that on my car and wish I could disable it . The number of times it was decided to close when I’m sitting on the tail gate or with my head under it .
Something you might have to consider !
It might be worth looking at the possibility of retro fitting the parts from a car that has it . You might also have issues with the car alarm system , or random opening when you are not around
Retrofit is impossibly expensive unfortunately.
I was thinking of putting a giant rubber button under the bumper that i can activate with my shoe and hook it up to a SwitchBot or something via Bluetooth. But neither will be connected to a 120V power source
If i get this general concept to work there are many other use cases in my life I would need to use one button to activate another button to control something far away
You can also buy remote key fobs and receivers cheaply on eBay .
1 Like
Probably easier to put an overhang lever in front of the trunk handle with a hinge on so when I use my elbow to push down the inside of the overhang will pull the handle so I don't have to free one hand to stick under the handle to pull it and drop big items Im holding on the muddy ground. The overhang also helps to cover the backup camera from rain and snow
This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.