抄録
This paper presents a design of a pedal actuating mechanism for a joystick car drive system. To realize pedal control system by electric power, a pedal actuating mechanism with a DC motor is developed. A single DC motor actuates a gas pedal and a brake pedal by alternating the drive shaft rotation. The movement of the DC motor is controlled by a joystick operated by a car driver. This system is developed for handicapped persons to drive a car by themselves without any helps by other people. The joystick operation in back and forth direction controls acceleration or deceleration of a car. Thus Therefore a person, who has disabilities in legs together with some disabilities such as no enough force nor move their arms in wide area, can drive a car by oneself. To reinforce the safety of a car in case of system fault, an emergency brake system is also developed which is actuated by air pressure. Therefore a car can be stopped by manual operation in any case. A pedal actuating mechanism is driven by an electric DC motor which is controlled by a microcomputer system. A pedal position is PID controlled by feedback control to track the reference angle given by a joystick. The prototype mechanism is mounted on a real van. Additionally, the developed van equips with a lift on the back and wheelchair user can access to the drivers position with propelling a wheelchair in side of a van. The developed joystick controlled van is tested on a private road to test the possibilities of proposed joystick car drive system.
