Neither the brake nor the accelerator count as a deadman. A deadman changes state upon release. An example is the deadman on a diesel locomotive, which stops the locomotive if the engineer lets go due to heart attack or other problem.

So, no, automotive cruise control does not have a deadman switch.

 

Neither the brake nor the accelerator count as a deadman. A deadman changes state upon release. An example is the deadman on a diesel locomotive, which stops the locomotive if the engineer lets go due to heart attack or other problem.

So, no, automotive cruise control does not have a deadman switch.

I agree. The pressure switch under foot would come the closest to the "deadman".

 

I think cruise control is more usefull on an empty highway when you use it as speed limiter so you can concentrate more on driving than watching your speed.
I never used it, but I always thought it disengages when you release the accelerator. Is that right?

Cruse control actually allows you to release on not keep your foot on the accelerator. Pressing the accelerator more generally does not disengage the current cruse setting, but the brake will. Generally if you accelerate while in cruse control and then you release the accelerator, you will slow down to the stored cruse setting.

 

Neither the brake nor the accelerator count as a deadman. A deadman changes state upon release. An example is the deadman on a diesel locomotive, which stops the locomotive if the engineer lets go due to heart attack or other problem.

So, no, automotive cruise control does not have a deadman switch.

That was my point. Which is the lesser of the two evils - an out-of-control scooter, or a 3000 pound unguided missile?
I'm not saying that a deadman switch is not a consideration for a scooter, just that the lack of one on vehicles apparently is not considered to be a big safety issue.

 

That was my point. Which is the lesser of the two evils - an out-of-control scooter, or a 3000 pound unguided missile?
I'm not saying that a deadman switch is not a consideration for a scooter, just that the lack of one on vehicles apparently is not considered to be a big safety issue.

Yes, this is my point as well. We need to get on it right away and get a law passed stating that we must physically lock both of the drivers hands to the steering wheel. I guess that's why they have auto insurance, cause they know we're gonna mess up. The scooter manufacturers are trying to avoid liability issues by adding this safety feature, therefore maybe I will need to find a scooter insurance salesman to purchase some insurance in case I mess up!

When I was in New Zealand on vacation I wasn't asked to sign some sort of waver to paraglide with someone, you just know the worst possible outcome, take a guess and the odds and live with your decision.

 

That was my point. Which is the lesser of the two evils - an out-of-control scooter, or a 3000 pound unguided missile?
I'm not saying that a deadman switch is not a consideration for a scooter, just that the lack of one on vehicles apparently is not considered to be a big safety issue.

The scooter doesn't have a seatbelt or airbags, high center of gravity, and no metal cage surrounding the driver, also weighs quite a bit.. Hope this cruise control isn't to free your hands, so you can operate your cell phone on the go...

Surprised the manufacturers don't have a cruise control add-on kit... You ram into a pedestrian at even 1 MPH, with 300 lbs or so mass, another scooter customer...

 

You can get a cruise control add-on kit for 700 lb motorcycles...

 

I put a "cruise control" on my 1980 Kawasaki KZ-650. It was basically a friction lock for the throttle. Nothing really different from what our OP wants - except my Kawasaki could do well over 100MPH, and I'll bet our OP's scooter would be very hard pressed to break 10MPH with a strong tailwind while riding it down a steep hill.

Let's forget about the safety angle folks. However, the controls still need to be intuitive, with the equivalent of a "panic button".

The "cruise control" aka throttle lock for the Kawasaki was a simple black plastic deal with a lever that when pressed downwards, would lock the throttle in a selected position; to release the throttle all you had to do was flick that lever upwards. Braking was still functional as well; the brakes had enough "oomph" to override the engine's torque, even to stall it out if necessary. There was no automatic "disengage" as there is in automotive cruise control; if you step on the brake, the cruise control is disengaged.

 

I put a "cruise control" on my 1980 Kawasaki KZ-650. It was basically a friction lock for the throttle. Nothing really different from what our OP wants - except my Kawasaki could do well over 100MPH, and I'll bet our OP's scooter would be very hard pressed to break 10MPH with a strong tailwind while riding it down a steep hill.

Let's forget about the safety angle folks. However, the controls still need to be intuitive, with the equivalent of a "panic button".

The "cruise control" aka throttle lock for the Kawasaki was a simple black plastic deal with a lever that when pressed downwards, would lock the throttle in a selected position; to release the throttle all you had to do was flick that lever upwards. Braking was still functional as well; the brakes had enough "oomph" to override the engine's torque, even to stall it out if necessary. There was no automatic "disengage" as there is in automotive cruise control; if you step on the brake, the cruise control is disengaged.

Way back when I rode a motorcycle, I mostly used the clutch and gears to slow down, the brakes were mainly for come to a complete stop. Rode a couple of months with no rear brakes at all (couldn't afford a new cable).

Back to the scooter... Why even bother with the digital pot, you want to cruise in the mid-range speed, so why not use a switch and a fixed value resistor? From what I remember of the project posts, you aren't looking for any precision in speed control, maybe a rotary switch to select several fixed cruise speeds. Might even be able to use the existing controls to disable. A simple relay could handle this, but I don't think it a great solution, bumps in the road, mechanical failure... Something to think about...

Oh yeah, have thought about weather proofing of your final design? Don't think it would take much moisture to cause some interesting effects... Hope you incorporate a video camera, very interested in seeing this scooter in action.

 

Back to the scooter... Why even bother with the digital pot, you want to cruise in the mid-range speed, so why not use a switch and a fixed value resistor? From what I remember of the project posts, you aren't looking for any precision in speed control, maybe a rotary switch to select several fixed cruise speeds. Might even be able to use the existing controls to disable. A simple relay could handle this, but I don't think it a great solution, bumps in the road, mechanical failure... Something to think about...

Oh yeah, have thought about weather proofing of your final design? Don't think it would take much moisture to cause some interesting effects... Hope you incorporate a video camera, very interested in seeing this scooter in action.

Some good points here. I think that multiple resistors and a rotary switch would be costlier. I think the digital pot is just under $2.00. I do however, need to find a good quality momentary switch.

I don't generally ride in the rain, but getting caught in it is always a possibility, thus some sort of waterproofing will need to be considered.

 

Some good points here. I think that multiple resistors and a rotary switch would be costlier. I think the digital pot is just under $2.00. I do however, need to find a good quality momentary switch.

I don't generally ride in the rain, but getting caught in it is always a possibility, thus some sort of waterproofing will need to be considered.

Resistors aren't expensive, hardly an issue. Don't know the price of a rotory switch (don't use the ones I have from salvaging), slide switch would do. The digital pot maybe $2.00, but what of the other stuff you need to integrate it? Just add some blinkie LEDs if you want to make it look impressive...

Moisture can get in from other sources beside rain (and my dog), humidity is really rough on some of the stuff I make for outdoors use. Haven't gotten into the habit of coating stuff yet. Mostly because I expect to do addition work on the boards later (but seldom do, unless they fail...).

 

Moisture can get in from other sources beside rain (and my dog), humidity is really rough on some of the stuff I make for outdoors use. Haven't gotten into the habit of coating stuff yet. Mostly because I expect to do addition work on the boards later (but seldom do, unless they fail...).

What is used for coating PCB's anyways?

Boy, If you could turn a mouse scrolling wheel into a multi-latching variable pot that would be real nice!!

 

For example some epoxy over the all thing. But then you simply can´t do any repairs or changes.

 

Going back a bit in our thinking.... someone mentioned disabling the spring in the deadman pot. I initially dismissed this as it would be difficult given the current location of the pot and the fact that in might be difficult to find the center (stop) position. But if I change the location of the pot closer to the handle where I control the steering and use a pot like those in stereo balance controls, then I could feel the center (stop) position easily. Adding a single (STOP) momentary latching pushbutton switch for emergencies might be all I need. I would however, have to remember that if I did use the STOP pushbutton, I would need to make sure that the balance pot was centered before restoring power.

 

Boy, If you could turn a mouse scrolling wheel into a multi-latching variable pot that would be real nice!!

Try a quadrature encoder driving a counter driving a digital potentiometer.

 

Either Today or tomorrow I am going to try a simple 5K pot in place of the deadman pot just to see how responsive it is. The 10K speed pot will be kept at maximum speed (zero Ohms).

 

Either Today or tomorrow I am going to try a simple 5K pot in place of the deadman pot just to see how responsive it is. The 10K speed pot will be kept at maximum speed (zero Ohms).

Don't for get to video tape it. Love a good crash-flick...