I spent more or less the entire afternoon today experimenting with the Zed and it finally worked ! I fitted some Vectra tailgate gas struts to the bonnet of my Zed today and wow what a lift ! It shoots up like a jack in the box ! Now taking this one step further, I removed the bonnet latch & safety mechanism and fitted a heavy duty contact solenoid off an E Class Merc's boot latch mechanism. This took a bit of modding as had to make room for it. I then wired up my alarm to the solenoid and now at the press of a button on my remote the frigging bonnet opens by itself ! Ha ! Ha! Ha! Now my next task is to see if I can close the bonnet with the touch of a button. This is going to take a bit more planning as its a tough on. I was thinking along the lines of a hydraulic system with a electric small pump and release valve mechanism that could be wired up to the alarm. What do you guys think ?

 

Why did I do it and what benefit is it ? I did it because I was bored today and this automation serves no purpose at all !

 

PS.

 

And yes I did have a fail safe system designed into it incase the damn thing opened while I was driving. I added a micro switch to the front of the bonnet and ran it through the aux alarm channel module port (which was originally designed for disabling the alarm when towing etc.) and thus if the car is running or the key is in the on position, the micro switch receives a pulse and prevents the solenoid from being activated.

how about an actuator insted? just a though!

very smart - how bout a full write-up or showing the mounting points on where you put the struts :bow:

Murphys Law!

 

... well at least you have eliminated a possible 'oh s*!t my bonnet cable has snapped' dilema :cool:

nice work mate :bow:

perhaps you could wire it into the ecu so whenever a fault code pops up the bonnet automatically opens for service :D

I think Mantav8 did summit along those lines a while back.

Wasnt electric, just the strut fitment, but had pics etc.

Will have a shufty and try and find it.

 

Alan..........

 

There you are !!

http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=44310&referrerid=3590

 

Alan......

Murphys Law!

 

... well at least you have eliminated a possible 'oh s*!t my bonnet cable has snapped' dilema :cool:

 

Yeah but what happens if the battery goes flat??? Will the solenoid still work???

cheap actuators, cheaper than buying in uk...

 

http://www.firgelliauto.com/product_info.php?cPath=74&products_id=47

 

good company will send to uk

Not being funny, but is removing the safety catch a good idea? have seen bonnets fly up and go through the windscreen before.

Not being funny, but is removing the safety catch a good idea? have seen bonnets fly up and go through the windscreen before.

 

True, my mates paxo's bonnet flew up and nearly wrote the car off! caused quite a bit of structural damage to the front of the roof too! :xxx:

 

sounds like alot of thought has gone into his project though - very impressed!

 

 

:bow:

I forgot to mention, I have also added a secondary safety latch and cable from the Merc's mechanism so you can also pop the bonnet open like normal from inside. I have added a modified lock on the secondary latch so if it is locked from inside, even if you press the remote the bonnet will not open. The lock has to be in the unlock status for this gadget to work.

 

I am currently working on automating the doors from this principle. Thus would the press of the button the doors should open by themselves and whack the car next to it in the supermarket car park.

 

The whole thing is just a test bed for my voice recognition system. I am hoping to control the cars features with voice control. I have already perfected biometric start on the missus Polo. Basically you place your thumb in the pod mounted on the dash and the car starts by itself. It scans your finger prints and pulse to activate. I just used the PC's biometric login concept and worked on that. I will transfer the system to the Zed once I have finished bits and pieces.

 

I have always been a gadget freak !

was somebody been watching too many nightrider episodes lol. thats will be the dogs if you get everything setup. cant wait to see the vids

You're right there bud ! I am a die hard K.I.T.T. fan. I am currently working on a top secret project and will be able to release details once I finish the test bed and real time simulation. I am actually a Robotics Engineer and completed my degree and masters in Artificial Intelligence. Due to lack of research funding here in the UK, I ended up specializing in Microsoft & Cisco products ! Just about pays the mortgage !

 

Now you guys know why I am skint and can't afford an aftermarket stock spoiler ! Any donations out there to raise money for 'Syed's Stock Spoiler Replacement fund' ? Early birthday present ? Sympathy present ? Pathetic good riddence present ? All are welcome ! I'll even bark for you if requested (for those in the fetish scene) !

 

LOL

Some people have far too much time on their hands :rofl:

But I do like my gadgets too :cool:

I forgot to mention, I have also added a secondary safety latch and cable from the Merc's mechanism so you can also pop the bonnet open like normal from inside. I have added a modified lock on the secondary latch so if it is locked from inside, even if you press the remote the bonnet will not open. The lock has to be in the unlock status for this gadget to work.

 

I am currently working on automating the doors from this principle. Thus would the press of the button the doors should open by themselves and whack the car next to it in the supermarket car park.

 

The whole thing is just a test bed for my voice recognition system. I am hoping to control the cars features with voice control. I have already perfected biometric start on the missus Polo. Basically you place your thumb in the pod mounted on the dash and the car starts by itself. It scans your finger prints and pulse to activate. I just used the PC's biometric login concept and worked on that. I will transfer the system to the Zed once I have finished bits and pieces.

 

I have always been a gadget freak !

 

 

:bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

I to got bored today and had a play about with the door mirrors! Managed to fit sensors, so now when i'm driving and things get to close, they automatically retract, then move back out when it is clear! Completley pointless, but kinda funny!

I forgot to mention, I have also added a secondary safety latch and cable from the Merc's mechanism so you can also pop the bonnet open like normal from inside. I have added a modified lock on the secondary latch so if it is locked from inside, even if you press the remote the bonnet will not open. The lock has to be in the unlock status for this gadget to work.

 

I am currently working on automating the doors from this principle. Thus would the press of the button the doors should open by themselves and whack the car next to it in the supermarket car park.

 

The whole thing is just a test bed for my voice recognition system. I am hoping to control the cars features with voice control. I have already perfected biometric start on the missus Polo. Basically you place your thumb in the pod mounted on the dash and the car starts by itself. It scans your finger prints and pulse to activate. I just used the PC's biometric login concept and worked on that. I will transfer the system to the Zed once I have finished bits and pieces.

 

I have always been a gadget freak !

ill tell you what mate either you have longer afternoons than me or your just that good at what you do then me being a bit sceptical without pics is not out of order hey :( either way it sounds good stuff

I to got bored today and had a play about with the door mirrors! Managed to fit sensors, so now when i'm driving and things get to close, they automatically retract, then move back out when it is clear! Completley pointless, but kinda funny!

Now that sounds like a good idea!! I had to kirb one of my front alloys the other day as I was faced with an old lady driver heading towards me keeping a good 2' gap away from cars parked on her side, I though I could either kirb an alloy or loose a mirror :(

geeeeeneeeeusss, surely destined to be the first zed owner in space!

geeeeeneeeeusss, surely destined to be the first zed owner in space!

with a name like zedberdee you sure you not been to space first :)

 

nice work there mate

I'll give you guys a demo when I get to meet all of you in person.

yeah but then you'll have :-

auto pilot

cinema with hog dog stand

and a doobrie sproket to change traffic lights to green lol

Don't forget the ejector seat ! The new BMW 645 Ci have stealth cockpit instrument projection panel (optional). I have seen one where the instrument panel is projected onto the windscreen like a fighter plane. Now I know a company in Denmark who build these and I was hoping to see if their kit that they supply would fit the Zed as there is a lot of work and cost involved but once done it will be the biz. I am waiting for their paperwork to come through so will let you know if any good.

i use my own arm

yeah seen some of those HUD's the look amazing

Don't forget the ejector seat ! The new BMW 645 Ci have stealth cockpit instrument projection panel (optional). I have seen one where the instrument panel is projected onto the windscreen like a fighter plane. Now I know a company in Denmark who build these and I was hoping to see if their kit that they supply would fit the Zed as there is a lot of work and cost involved but once done it will be the biz. I am waiting for their paperwork to come through so will let you know if any good.

 

Did the Corvette not have that ?? Heads up or summat its called ??

 

Much better looking throo the window and watch whats coming towards you, rather than looking at the window wondering why youre going throo so much fuel !! :x: Just kidding bud ! :)

 

Alan......