I find myself in need of a device which apparently does not exist, so I have have undertaken to build it myself.
After just having my motorcycle robbed at gunpoint I realized the need for a device that will shut my vehicle down if we become separated. My idea is to use an Arduino with the HC – 05 Bluetooth board. The idea is that I will carry a phone which has been paired to the HC – 05. The Arduino will periodically check the condition of the HC – 05, and see that it is in the paired state. If the device is still paired (I and my telephone are still nearby) it will maintain a relay closed which will allow the engine to run. If the HC – 05 becomes unpaired (I and my telephone are no longer near the vehicle), the relay will open and the engine will stop. Yes, I realize this is based on the assumption that they also don’t steal my telephone when they steal my motorcycle. They usually just grab the bike and go.
I have looked into the specifications of the HC – 05, and it looks like the way to go for the main loop of the program is to keep checking the connection status of the HC – 05 Bluetooth connection via an AT command which reports back the connection status.
This is my first time using Arduino, so I have no experience with it or the HC – 05.
I would greatly appreciate any input or ideas anyone has, especially anyone with working experience with something similar involving HC – 05.
Thank you very much in advance.
Bluetooth sounds really complex for this simple task. Have you researched RFID? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13198
codlink:
Bluetooth sounds really complex for this simple task. Have you researched RFID? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13198
Thanks for the message.
Yes. RFID was my first thought and choice. But passive RFID doesn’t have the range I’d need. Passive RFID only goes a few inches. Active RFID would be almost a thousand dollars just for the RFID component.
Greg
How often do you ride w/o your phone ? It’ll be never if this is your plan. My only real concern is what you’d do if your phone got broken, lost, stolen or had a dead battery. I’d like some form of “back-up”. Perhaps just a hidden disable switch or the like.
FWIW I recall there being some really simple proximity alert devices based on Nordic’s nRF8002 IC (a BLE, now BT “Smart” device). No micro needed. I just wish I could recall what they are called.
Mee_n_Mac:
How often do you ride w/o your phone ? It’ll be never if this is your plan. My only real concern is what you’d do if your phone got broken, lost, stolen or had a dead battery. I’d like some form of “back-up”. Perhaps just a hidden disable switch or the like.
FWIW I recall there being some really simple proximity alert devices based on Nordic’s nRF8002 IC (a BLE, now BT “Smart” device). No micro needed. I just wish I could recall what they are called.
I never leave home without my phone.I realized the drawbacks that people are pointing out, but to me they’re better than standing there and watching somebody drive away on your motorcycle.
I would really like to do this project as I described it, and would appreciate if anybody has any practical experience with the HC - 05 and has any information or suggestions as to how to implement it. Thanks.
Not to go too far off topic, but I don’t see the logic behind this. Say you do find and implement a solution that disables the bike. Why would you want to have the thief with a gun near you? Let’s say that the bike doesn’t disable until he’s a mile away, that is still too close for my taste. Please note that bluetooth doesn’t work that far…
If it were me, I would move to another city, or not go that route again. Stay away from bad neighborhoods, even if it takes 30 more minutes to get to your destination.
codlink:
Not to go too far off topic, but I don’t see the logic behind this. Say you do find and implement a solution that disables the bike. Why would you want to have the thief with a gun near you? Let’s say that the bike doesn’t disable until he’s a mile away, that is still too close for my taste. Please note that bluetooth doesn’t work that far.
A mile is far enough for me to have a .40 cal response should the thief come back to complain. But your concern is a good one, solved I say by adding a timer to the loss of pairing. Give them a minute to get far enough away, then cut the ignition.
To me an Adafruit Trinket would be sufficient to talk to the HC05. I’ve not used that modem so I can’t help much on the programming side. But the wiki has good info.
http://wiki.iteadstudio.com/Serial_Port … 29_:_HC-05
It seems that there’s a status pin that might be used too.
The open question is how the OP intends to kill the ignition. That will likely require some additional circuitry.
Thanks for commenting
I’m surprised there’s not more people with experience using the HC-05 that can pass along their experience. I know it’s popular.
Mee_n_Mac:
How often do you ride w/o your phone ? It’ll be never if this is your plan. My only real concern is what you’d do if your phone got broken, lost, stolen or had a dead battery. I’d like some form of “back-up”. Perhaps just a hidden disable switch or the like.
FWIW I recall there being some really simple proximity alert devices based on Nordic’s nRF8002 IC (a BLE, now BT “Smart” device). No micro needed. I just wish I could recall what they are called.
Thanks for that tip about the Nordic chip and the smart device. That lead me to the discover aero dot com site and they have a really cool Bluetooth device that looks perfect. It’s tiny, extremely low current drain and perfect for what I’m doing (I think).
I’m still going to go ahead with my Arduino project.