Sensor Based Gear Position Identification System

摘要

People using old second hand cars in cities, particularly novice drivers engage irrelevant gears; this in turn leads to fuel wastage and importing more petrol and diesel. One simple solution is to educate and alert the drivers to use relevant gears. In the current paper we explain how to design a low cost, add-on type of sensor assembly unit which can be fitted on any existing vehicle. This IRLED and photodiode based assembly unit along with the necessary signal conditioning circuit with an appropriate detection algorithm implemented on a microcontroller identifies which gear is currently engaged and provides an audio/display alert to the driver. By listening to this alarm, the drivers can engage proper gear to enhance the fuel efficiency. By linking the speed and load information available with the engine management system, with the proposed system, one can even educate/guide a driver to use correct gears.