Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of making my SUV do some “automatic” stuff. It’s not like full-on self-driving, more like… helpful automation. Here’s how it went down:
First Steps: What Can We Even Automate?
I started by thinking about the little things that bug me. Like, I always forget to turn off the headlights. And adjusting the AC is a constant battle. So, those were my first targets.
Gathering the Gear
I did a lot of searching, and ended up getting some stuff, I needed to work on that.
- A few sensors: Light sensors, temperature sensors, you know, the basics.
- A microcontroller:The little device to handle all the action.
- Some relays: These would let the microcontroller actually switch things on and off.
Wiring It All Up
This was by far the part I spent the most time on. I had to figure out how to connect everything to the car’s existing wiring without messing anything up. I spent time tracing wires and double-checking everything. Lots of trial and error here, some accidentally blowing some stuff.
The “Brain” Code
I wrote some basic code for the microcontroller. It was pretty simple stuff:
- Headlights: If the light sensor detects darkness AND the engine is on, turn on the headlights. If it’s bright OR the engine is off, turn them off.
- AC: If the temperature sensor reads above, say, 75 degrees, turn on the AC to a set level. If it’s below 68, turn on the heat.
Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3
I started with just the headlight control. I hooked everything up, started the car, and covered the light sensor with my hand. Boom! Headlights came on. Uncovered it, they went off. Success!
I use the similar way to test the AC control, just adjusting the conditions.
It’s still a work in progress. There are kinks to work out, I’d love to add more features eventually. Maybe automatic wipers? Or even some kind of parking assist? The possibilities are pretty cool to think about.
It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And it’s pretty satisfying to see my own little “automatic” system working in my SUV.
