Automatic brake applying system

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the development of an automatic brake applying system for a self-driving car. Participants explore the torque requirements for servos needed to operate the brake, clutch, and accelerator, considering factors such as lever arm length and the type of braking system in use.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks to determine the torque requirements for a servo based on the lever arm distance of 10-15 cm and the force needed to press the pedals.
  • Another participant suggests researching existing car systems to find torque specifications and emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific braking system in use.
  • Some participants propose using automatic transmission and ABS, indicating that the task is complex and may require professional input.
  • There is a suggestion that practical tests, such as measuring the force needed to press the pedal, would yield better results than theoretical calculations.
  • One participant notes that the required torque cannot be determined without understanding the specific design and dimensions involved.
  • Another participant emphasizes the need for clear design specifications, including the speed and force required for the brake application.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how to approach the problem, with some advocating for practical testing while others emphasize theoretical calculations. There is no consensus on the best method to determine the torque requirements.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the complexity of the engineering task, noting that variables such as geometry and specific design details significantly affect the torque requirements. There is also mention of the limitations of seeking advice on forums for serious engineering tasks.

Sridhar96
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Hi fellas!

I need to develop a system for a self driving car which involves automatically presses brake,clutch and accelerator when required.I am planning to use a servo for this purpose and have some trouble identifying the torque requirements!

How much torque do i need?assume the lever arm(distance of brake from servo shaft is around 10-15 cm.)
If not known.. kindly share any method available so i can measure the torque required.

If force needed to press the pedal is known..dividing by lever arm should give my torque requirment.

I will be using a car which has vacuum assisted power brake i guess.

Any help would be much appreciated :)
Have a great day!
 
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You should be able to answer your own questions by finding a car like the one you need to design and looking at it's systems.
i.e. how much torque is required to break at what rate for the cars you are most familiar with?

Those cars probably have a foot-pedal ... so you could design a device that acts as the foot+leg part and keep everything else the same ... refine the design by looking to see how much of the mechanism you can replace. Basically though, there is no substitute for climbing into a car and just looking.

You probably should not be guessing about the type of breaking system i the car you use - the possible variables are too wide otherwise, and it will be impossible to answer your questions.
 
Sridhar96 said:
Hi fellas!

I need to develop a system for a self driving car which involves automatically presses brake,clutch and accelerator when required.I am planning to use a servo for this purpose and have some trouble identifying the torque requirements!

How much torque do i need?assume the lever arm(distance of brake from servo shaft is around 10-15 cm.)
If not known.. kindly share any method available so i can measure the torque required.

If force needed to press the pedal is known..dividing by lever arm should give my torque requirment.

I will be using a car which has vacuum assisted power brake i guess.

Any help would be much appreciated :)
Have a great day!
Why not use automatic transmission and ABS-Automatic Braking System. This is a serious engineering job I advice you hire a pro or consult a buddy engineer.
This will involve controls and mechanical engineering stuff. But if you like to pursue, there is no limit to interest, you may sort out by studying machine design and controls system or the easy way but the expensive and time consuming : Trial and error.
 
Ronie Bayron said:
Why not use automatic transmission and ABS-Automatic Braking System. This is a serious engineering job I advice you hire a pro or consult a buddy engineer.
This will involve controls and mechanical engineering stuff. But if you like to pursue, there is no limit to interest, you may sort out by studying machine design and controls system or the easy way but the expensive and time consuming : Trial and error.

Hey,
Right now our focus is testing the AI part. We need a quick and dirty fix for the parts I have mentioned. We have the design planned out, but need the torque rating of the three servo required, hence the thread

Take a look at the picture uploaded!
 

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Sridhar96 said:
Hey,
Right now our focus is testing the AI part. We need a quick and dirty fix for the parts I have mentioned. We have the design planned out, but need the torque rating of the three servo required, hence the thread

Take a look at the picture uploaded!
Also, the car has already been purchased and we need not just automatic breaking, but also clutch accelerator steering and gear box.
 
Simon Bridge said:
You should be able to answer your own questions by finding a car like the one you need to design and looking at it's systems.
i.e. how much torque is required to break at what rate for the cars you are most familiar with?

Those cars probably have a foot-pedal ... so you could design a device that acts as the foot+leg part and keep everything else the same ... refine the design by looking to see how much of the mechanism you can replace. Basically though, there is no substitute for climbing into a car and just looking.

You probably should not be guessing about the type of breaking system i the car you use - the possible variables are too wide otherwise, and it will be impossible to answer your questions.
Hi , you have misunderstood my question I think. I am not concerned on how to design it as we are prepared with that. Take a look at the image posted below. Also, the car in question has already been purchased (manual transmission) and we can only make changes it in the external part.

For the servo used in the picture, I want to know a way to know the torque rating of the servo needed.
 
Sridhar96 said:
Hey,
Right now our focus is testing the AI part. We need a quick and dirty fix for the parts I have mentioned. We have the design planned out, but need the torque rating of the three servo required, hence the thread

Take a look at the picture uploaded!
There's no way, to tell how much torque is needed, as you see, forces and energy is dependent on geometrics (dimensions). There's no way to tell how much magnitude is enough without seeing your design.
Any how, I believe I am only limited with the advice on directions I can give you, serious engineering involve cost you know and should not be practice on forums like this.
 
Practical tests will yield better and quicker answers than any Q+A on PF . If there is an unknown force in a real piece of equipment then do whatever it takes to measure it .

Pedal - put a brick on it - if it doesn't move put another brick on it . When pedal floors count the bricks .
 
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Ronie Bayron said:
There's no way, to tell how much torque is needed, as ,you see, forces and energy is dependent on geometrics (dimensions). There's no way to tell how much magnitude is enough without seeing your design.
Any how, I believe I am only limited with the advice on directions I can give you, serious engineering involve cost you know and should not be practice on forums like this.
Hi, I have attached picture of design for brake pedal. Kindly take a look and see if it helps you make any conclusion. It is okay if the servo we buy is underworked. Lever arm is around 15 cm!
 
  • #10
Sridhar96 said:
Hi, I have attached picture of design for brake pedal. Kindly take a look and see if it helps you make any conclusion. It is okay if the servo we buy is underworked. Lever arm is around 15 cm!

I can't see any attachment.
Unless you've done what Nidium suggested or have otherwise found the required force for your particular car then we can't help.

Engineering design almost always starts with defining the design specifications.At the absolute minimum you must know:
- How fast must the brake be pushed (milliseconds between min and max extension)
-How hard must the brake be pushed (Newtons, this likely varies with extension)

If you can't answer these questions then you can't select a servo.
 

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