Hi,
I am a motorcycle mechanic looking for a place to start on a project. I have a BS in Computer Science but have no experience in electronics. I have toyed with R/C projects etc. as well.
Here is what I have. I am building a 250cc twin cylinder 2-stroke race bike for competition. The bike as delivered from the factory has power valves on the cylinders. These valves change the size and height of the exhaust port, which changes the way the engine runs at different RPM. This is much like VVTi or VTEC found on 4-stroke engines in cars. The point is to give the engine more power at lower RPM, while the motor is really tuned for power at high RPM.
The power valves are controlled by one servo motor. The servo motor has 2 power wires and 3 control wires. The CDI (ignition box) controls the motor currently.
The problem with the current system is that it has 3 positions. Down, middle, and up. These positions are decided by throttle position (TPS sensor) and motor RPM. I would like to make a controller that is adjustable and analog. It would take the RPM signal and then output to the servo to control the position. I would start with the general specs of the stock machine, then tune for max power on our eddy current dyno. One day I would also like to make a programmable ignition for this and other bikes.
So, what I need is to be pointed in the correct direction. What book should I read to get started (intro to electronics, etc.) then what fields should I research (controllers, analog circuits, motor control, etc.) As with most projects, the hardest part is knowing where to start.
Thanks for your help in advance.
I am a motorcycle mechanic looking for a place to start on a project. I have a BS in Computer Science but have no experience in electronics. I have toyed with R/C projects etc. as well.
Here is what I have. I am building a 250cc twin cylinder 2-stroke race bike for competition. The bike as delivered from the factory has power valves on the cylinders. These valves change the size and height of the exhaust port, which changes the way the engine runs at different RPM. This is much like VVTi or VTEC found on 4-stroke engines in cars. The point is to give the engine more power at lower RPM, while the motor is really tuned for power at high RPM.
The power valves are controlled by one servo motor. The servo motor has 2 power wires and 3 control wires. The CDI (ignition box) controls the motor currently.
The problem with the current system is that it has 3 positions. Down, middle, and up. These positions are decided by throttle position (TPS sensor) and motor RPM. I would like to make a controller that is adjustable and analog. It would take the RPM signal and then output to the servo to control the position. I would start with the general specs of the stock machine, then tune for max power on our eddy current dyno. One day I would also like to make a programmable ignition for this and other bikes.
So, what I need is to be pointed in the correct direction. What book should I read to get started (intro to electronics, etc.) then what fields should I research (controllers, analog circuits, motor control, etc.) As with most projects, the hardest part is knowing where to start.
Thanks for your help in advance.