Automotive electronics and their implementation in a race car

Abstract: This bachelor's thesis has its main focus on the design and
construction of hardware and software for the 2006 LTU Formula
Student racing car. However, it also deals with the subject of
microcontroller and electronics implementation in automobiles as
well as a description of the Formula Student event, at which the
electronics will are used.

During a short project course in the late fall / early winter of
2005, the author came in contact with computer aided design of
electronics and programming of microcontrollers. Design of the
hardware for the steeringwheel was also begun. This led to the fact
that a bachelors thesis project focusing on the software and
hardware for the steering wheel and the software for the gear
shifting and clutch control ECU as well as the implementation of
these systems in the racing car, would make a natural follow-up.

The hardware in the steering wheel consists of a printed circuit
board (PCB) with various components mounted, the main one being the
Atmel AVR AT90CAN128 microcontroller. This microcontroller is an
excellent choice for use in autmotive systems because it offers a
wide variety of functions, among these a CAN controller and it is
affordable and it is easy to use.

The hardware for the gear shifting and clutch control unit was made
by two members of the previous year's Formula Student team, as an
upgrade for this year's car. The main change for this year was the
fitting of both clutch control and gear shifting on the same PCB,
using one microcontroller to control both systems. The CAN128 is
used here as well, which gave the author a good platform for
software development. The actuators controlled by this card is an
electrical motor for the clutch and a solenoid for the gear
shifting.