{"id":2548,"date":"2025-03-27T16:52:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uselesspickles.com\/portfolio\/?page_id=2548"},"modified":"2025-03-31T22:35:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T22:35:13","slug":"proportional-throttle-on-a-power-wheels","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.uselesspickles.com\/portfolio\/proportional-throttle-on-a-power-wheels\/","title":{"rendered":"Proportional Throttle on a Power Wheels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Proportional Throttle on a Power Wheels<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Bad user interface caused confusion and fear<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When my son first tried riding his new Power Wheels ATV\/quad, there was confusion and fear. He already had familiarity with the concept of the throttle grip on a motorcycle, so he reasonably expected that the throttle grip on his Power Wheels is what makes it go. It did not. And to make things worse, it was actually a pedal on one of the foot platforms that actually makes it go. And it’s an on\/off switch, full power or nothing. So when he first climbed on, he unintentionally stepped on the pedal, the toy took off at full throttle before he was fully seated, and tears began to flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My son happily riding his Power Wheels (after I modified it)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It turns out that the throttle grip on this Power Wheels is only used to enable maximum speed. The foot pedal runs the motors at about half power, and twisting the throttle grip presses a button that runs the motors at full speed (but only if the foot pedal is also pressed). This is stupid. I decided to make it better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creating a better user interface<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My goal was to modify the Power Wheels to have smooth, fully proportional throttle control using the throttle grip, just like a motorcycle. The more you twist the grip, the faster it goes. Here’s an over-simplified outline of the plan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Modify the throttle grip to move a potentiometer instead of push a button. The potentiometer can be used to measure the position of the throttle grip across a continuous range, instead of only detecting “on” vs “off.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Program a microcontroller to detect the throttle grip position, and output a throttle position signal that is compatible with an Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) for R\/C cars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Rewire the motors so I can connect them to an ESC for R\/C cars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Connect everything together, and now the Power Wheels has fully-proportional throttle control using the throttle grip!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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