STV steering wheel PCB design - ScuderiaTorVergata/Electronics-PCB-Design GitHub Wiki
Background:
Scuderia Tor Vergata is the official Formula SAE Team of the University of Rome Tor Vergata, based in Rome, Italy.
Founded in 2006, over the years Scuderia has been run by hundreds of students with one common goal, that of sharing and applying the technical and theoretical knowledge learned during their studies in a challenging project.
A total of more than 6 Formula SAE prototypes designed and fabricated, which participated in more than 10 Formula SAE events across Europe.
Electronic Design:
This PCB is embedded inside the core of the steering wheel and it hosts many device that allow the pilot to have a good control of the vehicle. For this reason its shape it’s customised, so it follows the curves of the external case and it makes the most of the space available.
This printed circuit board is powered by an ATMega microprocessor and it communicates with the ECU and vehicle using CAN protocol, through a CAN module installed onboard.
The PCB controls some useful commands for the pilot: On the steering wheel there are two paddles, four front buttons and two rotary switch.
- Two small pushbuttons installed inside the rear paddles control the gear shift;
- the two rotary switch are used as selectors for Traction Control and Engine Maps;
The four front buttons have different funtions:
- the command press-to-talk of the radio allows the communication with the team.
- The button “launch” signals for the control unit to set the engine rpm to perfect value, in order to perform a good acceleration at the start.
- The button “page” rotates the pages on the display mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle, providing a controller for the GUI interface installed.
- The button “target” insert a target on the telemetry parameters.
Moreover, the PCB is designed for automatic software control of the clutch.
This is the final result of our PCB. Thanks to https://jlcpcb.com/HAR we were able to build our PCB design and test it. JLCPCB provide us with stencil for SMT device, It was very useful to improve production times.
Mechanical Design
The steering wheel consists of a lower plate made of light, strong carbon fibre.
At the rear of the plate is the bracket that connects the steering wheel to the steering column. At the front of the plate are mounting brackets for the PCB, handles, and steering wheel cover.
The handles and steering wheel cover are made of forged carbon. this ensures robustness and reliability of the entire structure.
On the front panel are buttons and rotary switches that allow the driver to interface with the entire vehicle.
PCB design with JLCPCB
JLCPCB (https://jlcpcb.com/HAR) is the company we rely on for our electronic boards.
Thanks to their professionalism, care for the process and expertise they can offer us an excellent, reliable and attractive product.
To use their services, all you have to do is go to https://jlcpcb.com/HAR and upload the Gerber files you produce.
Once this is done, select all the configurations you prefer from those possible.
For our prototype, we also asked JLCPCB to produce a stencil in order to position the solder paste correctly and to be able to mount our PCB correctly. This is an additional service of theirs, along with the possibility to assemble your board for you with all the SMD components in your design.
Save in the shopping cart and order.
Look forward to your boards "et voilà", and your perfect PCBs will arrive.
For our prototype, we also asked JLCPCB to produce a stencil in order to position the solder paste correctly and to be able to mount our PCB correctly. This is an additional service of theirs, along with the possibility to assemble your board for you with all the SMD components in your design.
Save in the shopping cart and order.
Look forward to your boards "et voilà", and your perfect PCBs will arrive.