Today we have a cool project coming to us from SparkFun customer Brad Nelson. Brad's daily driver is a bright red Kymco ZX50 scooter - not the most exciting of rides and not much to look at. So, like any good hacker, Brad said, "I can make this better." Here's what he did:
Brad calls his project "Bluition." Bluition is essentially a Bluetooth ignition device that allows him control his scooter ignition, starter, and seat latch from his Android phone using simple gestures, like shaking his phone.
Brad uses a program called Tasker, which communicates using a Python script and Bluetooth. Brad uses the RN-42 Bluetooth Module for wireless communication, a solenoid to pop the seat, MOSFET Control Boards, and some other various bits and bobs. One thing he didn't use - a dev board (no Arduino or otherwise!). Very cool work, Brad! Check out his webpage for more details and information on how to build your own!
cool, but who wants to start their scooter from a phone? When you hit a bump on your scooter, your phone will mimick the same up and down shake and suddenly your ignition will terminate. Wouldn't a better idea would be to use a fingerprint reader on the dash of the scooter and when you run your finger over it it recognizes you like being a "key"? Leave the kill switch intact and a active button for the trunk that is tied to the recognition of you by the fingerprint reader.
Yep. This is one of these rare 'good implementation but quetsionable idea'. Usually it's the other way around :)
Well said :)
Someone asked me how I came up with the idea. After some thought, I realized it all started because I didn't have a spare key.
Lol ... That's a lot of people's first comments. It won't read any gestures when the screen of the Android phone is off. I don't have to unlock it, just hit the power button and shake. It automatically turns the screen off in five seconds.
I think that he probably uses the switch on the handlebar to turn the system off while riding.
But imagine the fun you could have with people tring to steal the scooter... "Hey he's stealing your scooter!!!" Shake "oh..."
Great idea! Super fast too! LOL just kidding, no seriously pretty cool ;)
Great work! love the idea!
No uC huh? Well kudos to you. Quite impressive.
sounds like you are saying "using a uC is cheating" lol