drive-by-wire

[Daniel Ridge]

> > However, the thing I really can't stand -- trunks and engine bay latches
> > that operate only by cable. My Fiat X1/9 is such a car. Is there some
> > solenoid that I can buy cheaply from a yard that I can install to tug on
> > the cables for me? 
> 
> Try a central locking solenoid from a car that was equipped with 
> one, or go down to the local car/electronics store, which might have 
> central locking solenoids and stuff which you should be able to buy. 
> While you're at it, the doors could cop a bit of automation as well.

The thing is, I'm not trying to add automation gratuitously. The cables
are currently pulled on by a pair of levers hidden in the driver's side
door jamb. If the levers don't retract the entire way, they get bent and
the box they're in gets smashed when the door is closed. It drives me
insane. In this case, I feel adding the solenoids would increase
robustness. 

-Dan

PS: we were talking a while ago about non-circular pistons. Wouldn't
non-circular piston rings be difficult?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~\___/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   Daniel Ridge                      |   USRA  CESDIS
   Research Minion, Beowulf Project  |   Code 930.5
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