[ausev] DIY controller?

[Gil Dawson]

At 7:42 A -0600 6/14/08, evehicle4me at hischopsticks.org wrote:
>What are the "basic functions" that a controller needs to manage?

Here are a few functional requirements from my perspective:
    [wish-list features in brackets]


Most Basic:

Convert DC from the batteries into wheel torque from the motor in 
response to the accelerator

Dispay status information to the driver

Accept Control Inputs from the driver


A Little Less Basic:

Keep the tires from slipping against the road during turning

And during acceleration

And during braking

Feet-off-all-pedals creep (like at a stoplight) to mimic ICE cars.
   (Production cars from the nineties all had this for some reason.)


Regen when coasting
   [Variable by driver to control downhill speed.]

Regen when braking
   (Production cars from the nineties activated regen with a pressure 
switch on the hydraulic brake line.)

Power braking
   [Powerful enough to not need mechanical brakes.]

Battery management (limits battery currents and temperatures while 
driving and charging)
   ["Battle Short" override button.]
   ["Power-sipping" feature limits charging power draw (for 
opportunity charging).]
   [Charges while driving, from a generator or solar cells.]
   [Charges from solar cells while parked.]
   [Stores unneeded energy somewhere (capacitors?) when coasting with 
full batteries.]

State-of-Charge estimation (fuel gauge simulator)

Range estimation
   [Taking altitude into account.]

--Gil