Sorry if this doesnt quite fit the bill for this section..Im toying around the idea of utilizing biometrics for locking and unlocking of some doors..Im not sure whats actually out there, Its primary for my own car as something to sht on people(ego) when im out but i soon plan to impliment something lkike this on a fleet of trucks for ease of record keeping..

I know nothing other thjan my roomate (PC GEEK) has one and he unlocks his pc with his finger..Ive been working as a process engineer for a while and specialize in PLC implimentation..

So im thinking if i could run an allen bradley slc 150 or an omron i have lying around i can get this to work..I like the omron since it has the infinate I/O ..Im already l;ooking to use a polc for a total car controller and N2) controller..I do know that at least on the movies i see the biometric panels in use for entryways..So if i havent lost you guys at this point i need to find a panel that would have some sorta output that can bve read by a PLC I/O card..

 

I'm somewhat familiar with the SLC500 from Allen Bradley and a host of other
PLC mfg's like Siemens, Cutler-Hamer, SST, etc. I'm guessing the SLC 150 is
an ancient form of the 500?

What I'm not very clear about is the application? You want to use a PLC to
lock and unlock your car door?

Seems like an overkill physical size and processor for a simple function, but
it's a cool project idea.

Are you looking to find a method to interface an RF module to the PLC, so
that you an use a keyfob transmitter?

What hardware I/O do you plan to use with the car door locking mechanism?

 

I think on the pc that the biometric pad is just another way of keyboard input, except the pc ignores the kb and requires the input to come from the pad? to come off of screensaver. This is just like a barcode scanner that Y's in with the keyboard. So it would seem that you would need to program the biometric pad/chip assy to your fingerprint and then read its output to know what character string to program the controller for to accept as a valid unlock code. Sounds like the thing to do would be purchase a biometric pc add-on kit and take it apart.

 

The only issue I see being a potential problem is that the biometric panel is going to need to be ready to accept input at all times, which means it's going to need to be on at all times, which means it's going to be putting a constant current draw on the car's battery. You may be able to get away with wiring the PLC through the accessory relay to save current by not having it constantly on as well, but that would probably necessitate touching the biometric pad twice to get it to trigger the locks. (Once to arm the PLC, twice to trigger.) What exactly did you have in mind as far as what you're going to keep and what you're not? Are you intending to have the biometric panel act as a means of an auxiliary method for unlocking your doors, or were to going to go with a traditional shaved door handle/lock setup and rely on the biometrics as the sole entry mechanism? If you're intending to go with the latter...I just hope you're vigilant about battery maintenance.

 

yes zero to 69 the 150 is a few years old..I wont be using it since parts are no longer available..probally why i havent used it at all..I plan on still having door handles and lock cylinders in the car..Currently debating weither to run late model ford truck handles or acura legend handles...

At the current time i need the plc to comtrol the main disable for the N2o, all the stages of the gas as well as the protection circuts..ie fuel pressure oil pressure etc etc..Simple stuff like door unlocking is just trying to go the extra mile..Right now im working the bugs out of an infinmity memory module to get some power seats working in the car.Ive found a source for simple solid stae relays that ive used before when building a cnc table for one client..They worked pretty good at 12 volts.

Im locaL to automation direct who sell koyo plcs..They seem to work like a champ(recently installed them in 6 custom cut sheet vaccum formering machines and one brown rotary)..I may be looking into running their products.

As far as space in concerned i have the room throughout the car to fit what iu need..Im just trying to shy away from the relay king and ignorant control systems that are available for cars..The plc seems the way to go with what i want to do and still have room to breath.In the end the plc will have control of teh ;door locks, seat memory settings,air ride system,control to the subs and sub amp(keep the boy from pounding music around town), tv's and teh x box..The idea is with the touch of a finger the plc will know what to allow to operate and not to allow to operate.It may be overkill in processing but my other options would be a mini mac..The problem of the mini mac is how do i get some form of i/o to work with a pc..Im not that great with computers and the current tech so im at a loss there..

This is really just an exercise for something bigger that a few clients have discussed to me about..Most have fleet vehicles and want the machinery they operate to have less setup time..It would be nice to have a tow truck owner able to send trucks home but the controls dissabled during the off time of the driver..prevents unauthorized towing..Machinery would have less setup time and know what operateor is running the equipment..Monitoring his or her productivity through a data recorder.Personally i see it as a way to add ABS to a non ABS car or even an airbag..The current problem that ive run into with the 3 ABS swaps that ive done is the ecm isnt programmed for the reciever car..Ive done a monte SS with B body and f body stuff and a pump/actuator from astrovan..It worked but not as i wanted it to.With the mirad of sensors avail and programming options it would be an easy upgrade.

Sorry for the long wind but im still at 10k feet on this one and would like to get to 60k soon..

 

That's quite a step up from unlocking doors

Killer project for sure, and very impressive concept w/ Biometrics.

Have you thought of using an HMI interface from an on-board laptop
computer to monitor/control the PLC?

I used to work for SST which developed interface cards (PCMCIA) to work
with DOS/Microsoft based computers.

That would certainly add to the cool factor, and would solve your problems
with communicating to I/O.

 

Not to step in to a battle of wits completely unarmed but you got me thinking.

You know when you lock your keys inside of a new vehicle such as the ones from GM equipped with OnStar they can open the doors.

They have to have some kind of interface that converts the signal they send to an actual command that the pcm can understand. Maybe it would be possible to "hack" the code so that a very basic chip set could send the same signal to the locks or whatever path the command takes. In this case the initiator of the command would be linked to the input from the biometric device. BTW, I know its not as simple as just hacking the code but you get my idea.

As far as the power issue and battery maintenance would it be possible to incorporate a momentary button that the user would push in and hold to power the biometric device so that it only receives power when it is in use.

 

Battle of the wits? I didnt see mindgame post here yet..LOL

The power idea is a good one..I have worked with onstar when it was 1st released in a box form in the early 90s..Delco has some strong partners invested in that project so they will not let it get away from their control..They used to rent a milatary satelite but not sure about now..I used to teach at the gm tech center in maple shade nj before the cutbacks and worked at a nj car dealer as lead electrical tech..I wanted to install onstar into my LT1 powered bu..

Im looking at some pclc's at this time..Other than that i may use a minimac with an interface card..It will also solve my dvd requirements and also provide wireless internet..Right now im gearing towards a modded X box ..

 

Your getting close, but not close enough Expand your concept make it a winner. I'll give away a good one for you and you can go ahead and get rich from it, seeings how I'm moving to another direction.

The PLC has its place, going parallel with the existing car system for doors is good, but they do have their limitations. Your best bet is to obtian a sensor that has built in memory. The algorithm being contained in the same sensor module so that any crunching will be done localy. The with a simple rs422/485 connection to the PLC, you can manipulte the results easily. The small PLCs are normally designed with one, maybe two comm ports, but all of them have the ability to add a comm card of some sort. I've used many a ascii cards to talk with older equipment, but that was th old days. Yet these cards are still offered for the smaller PLCs.

You'll still want some sort of PC for various reasons, but the main would be simplicity in programming and working with other I/O. So here is the get rich scheme. Many of the manufacturers now use a dash that can be plugged in at one or two connectors. Replace your dash with an LCD panel that hooks to you PC and use that interface to work with the PLC. I'm sure you've seen Wonderware for HMI. Now take a simular program and use it to control the LCD graphics. Connect your PC to the ECM of the car and you have a virtual work station and a custom dask to boot.

Think about it, changing you whole instrument cluster at the touch of a button, any color any shape any style readout. Hell if you have WiFi in your area, you could surf the net while stuck in traffic.

Do a search for the LCDs they are fairly in expensive and most have their own controller built into them. The comm language is pretty straight forward. Add a small touch screen on your center console, and you are in hog heaven.

Got an air system or hydraulics? Use the PLC to control the system, want your car to dance? Use a sequencer in the PLC for the dance steps, store the steps and timing in all that extra register space. Want to change dance steps, do a move from another set of registers. Add a few voice commands and you got a geek car!

 

Found a guy that works at omrom who is assembling a parts list for a pc based system..Should have the deatils and a working model in a few months..No programs to make or hardward to invent..Everything was already there..

 

you're probalby going to want to keep the pad covered, just put a little switched door over it which turns the system on when someone sticks a finger in it. Or make the whole pad pressure sensitive (mount the pad so it can trigger a switch when there is pressure on it).