hi there, I am looking in to the final stages of my wheelchair build, and I am getting close to the seat controls etc.,
I was thinking of using a raspberry pi as the main guts, I need to control at least 4 24volt actuators, and would like to be able to have a touch screen rather than buttons or switches, I would also like to be able to slide through pages of functions, so the main screen showing the (at present) 4 actuators main controls, being up down of the seat up down of leg rests, tilt in space, and recline.
I may want to add other things like curb climber (again via actuator) and other functions, but would also like to slide to the next page and have a load of pre-set positions, so if I press button one it moves 3 separate actuators at different speeds form their current positions so at the press of a button I am raised to the standing position, that would mean the back slowly reclines the foot rest lowers and the seat base it tilted forward, and clearly in reverse if I press button two, or press button 3 for the lie down sleep position, or home mode where I need to put all actuators down, and so on.
I would also like to have a screen that displays current speed, maybe GPS function, and or media player (no not that lazy just spend loads of time in the chair) I have a 3D printer so can build custom waterproof housing, but I just do not know if the raspberry pi is up to the job and if so how hard it would be, I have never programmed before and pain hinders learning to as it affects concentration so much.
I am OK with things like relay switches, so rather than the need to power the actuators I would think I would need to use relays and just use the raspberry pi to switch them, all the actuators being used are motor driven, so assume some sort of servo control is the way to go, also as new on the forum, do not know if I could ask if there is someone I could pay to do the programming of it. Any way any help advice would be very good.
Cheers. Mark.