S4 E20 We continue upgrading the AMR500 supercharged kubota diesel with custom engine controls

[@SamwiseOutdoors]

I knew that if I procrastinated enough and kept pushing back my morning run, I'd be rewarded.

[@anthonyrstrawbridge]

Me too. He'll be parked soon.

[@sactowndizzle]

just got back from my morning walk

[@hoping67]

Exercise is futile...I've decided my perfect shape is round

[@SamwiseOutdoors]

@@hoping67 I'm in shape... Pear shape!

[@ike1660]

Yeah I've been postponing my morning run for about 37 years now and so far it's really going great !

[@BigKandRtv]

Obviously the technical side of these videos is excellent. This guy’s cadence and intonation are so good he could tell me my cancer is spreading, and I would just mumble ‘spreading, moving to other places, I understand that. I get it. Tell me more.’ He took about 20 seconds to flash back and bring new viewers up to speed. Whoever is editing is doing a great job.👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@robotcantina8957]

The big secret is.... I write, direct, narrate, edit, engineer,fabricate, and pretty much do everything you see in the videos. Its a lot of work, but its also fun.

[@boeing_is_best5632]

@@robotcantina8957You truly are a jack of all trades! The most interesting part in my opinion is how capable you are on the mechanical side of things while having only worked as a software engineer/programmer (as far as I know). It really is inspiring for people like me who have a focused career yet still love other aspects of the design process. I’m in school for aerospace engineering but I still have a collection of arduinos and electronic doohickeys! Keep it up, we’re all rooting for you!

[@lettuce7378]

@@robotcantina8957 you run a tight ship jimbo!

[@robotcantina8957]

@@lettuce7378 Thanks!

[@SteveMacdaddy]

I really enjoy all of your builds especially the Renault. ​@robotcantina8957

[@tech-kyle]

The nerdy stuff makes sense to me, although I'm used to it. I think you explain and lay out the electronic side very well without going overboard for the average person.

[@josephgauthier5018]

My thoughts as well

[@ProfessionalNoodler]

Overemployed electro-mechanical engineer here; love it when you go into depth on the technical challenges of your projects.

[@dannycalley7777]

PN ............I like the neck snapping acceleration and the Kansas rural country side .

[@Eluderatnight]

"Works 100% of the time, 60% of the time."

[@robotcantina8957]

Yes!

[@m1geo]

I always say "60% of the time, works every time!"

[@Dirty_Bits]

Many years ago I went through a similar process with a 7.3 idi engine. All mechanical. Designed and built a PIC based ecu and tcu. It really woke that engine up. Watching this is bringing back lots of fond memories.

[@acynder1]

Oh I would love to hear what you did to that engine. I have a 1.9 AEF that could apreciate a wake up call

[@sumduma55]

There used to be a really thriving community around using an ardrino to add functionality to old engines like fuel injection and more aggressive ignition timing variations. Some where just replacing old ECMs that went bad and there wasn't a competent/reliable replacement available. Some just wanted to see what they could do (I added electronic ignition and fuel injection to a 25hp 20 year old garden tractor, for instance) . A lot of that disappeared seemingly overnight when the EPA started going after the diesel modders claiming emissions circumventing and fines that would scare your grandchildren's grandchildren. Some of the software and schematics is still around and getting updated but it's harder to find. People aren't as open as they used to be. Did you do anything like that or did you home brew from scratch?

[@Dirty_Bits]

The mods I did were all unique. The approach was very similar to Robot Cantina's but this was before the arduino was a thing. I did it all with PIC 16F877A microcontrollers and discrete components with a smattering of borrowed sensors and machined parts. Basically made the mechanical Stanadyne pump work like the computer controlled pump from the 6.5 diesels of the time. That along with a simple transmission controller made for a much improved driving experience. It was a fun project.

[@sumduma55]

@@Dirty_Bits sounds like fun. Thanks for sharing.

[@aaronschocke2147]

​@@Dirty_BitsIronically, many are hearkening back to the days of the DS4's predecessor, the DB2. The advancements in capabilities found in the DS4 are certainly there (provided you tweak them to be less self-destructive ... I an looking at the GM engineers 😂). I have yet to acquire a stroked pump, but it is on my list. Having been modifying Duramaxs though for the last 10 or more years, the 6.5 is becoming more of a project than a workhorse or hotrod 😂

[@garymeissner6659]

Love the added tech. I built an all analog 5th injector controller back in the 80's when I intercooled a factory turbo car, also programmed an Electromotive TEC-II ECU when I added a turbo to another car, and I have programmed a few different microcontrollers, including Arduino. This gives me a good frame of reference for where you are going. On many factory turbo diesel engines, they use the boost pressure to directly limit the maximum fuel setting to limit smoke. Essentially, boost x rpm = air flow. Limit max fuel flow to match calculated air flow. With a blower, the boost is more predictable, but there is still some lag as it pressurizes the piping and intercooler. With a turbo, the pressure changes are more dynamic, but I still feel measuring boost would be a more accurate control for the fuel rack limiter.

[@robotcantina8957]

My turbo diesel Mercedes had a gizmo called an ALDA and it did pretty much the same thing that my contraption does. The ALDA was purely mechanical and was calibrated with spring pressure, on my device, I'm using software to calibrate it, LOL, changing a few things in the code is a lot easier than playing around with springs and linkages.

[@stevebot]

@@robotcantina8957 +\- pressure, springs and diaphragms/pistons are voodoo.

[@rsquared9703]

I like how this project bridges the gap of “electronics suck” and “electronics can be beneficial”

[@dillpickle7468]

You sir can do it all! I had a win today too... nailed tying both shoelaces 😊

[@robotcantina8957]

Nice work!

[@deepfreezzeer]

I loved the comedy bits with clips. That definitely made the technical video more enjoyable. Humor always makes learning fun!

[@neoxela00]

I love how you are indirectly explaining how a basic ECU works and then going on to practically build one, explaining the logic at each step. What a fun project to watch.

[@jeffberwick]

This is very cool. I love the technical details! But I'm a EE, so naturally want to nerd out on this stuff.

[@shred1894]

You give it just the right amount of depth. Some channels either gloss over the technical bits too much or go way too deep into it, but you found a good balance.

[@mike_oe]

I LOVED this episode. Currently I'm designing an Arduino controlled windshield wiper motor driven steering servo for my 10HP Mercury powered 12' boat. Not sure if it will ever get implemented, because I keep improving it. Right now with a compass sensor allowing for a simple autopilot/heading hold function. Your work is amazing, spanning so many different fields of expertise and being executed so well. People like you should be given apprentices to pass on all the knowledge.

[@robotcantina8957]

Good luck with the project! It sounds like something I would build if I had a boat.

[@DracoOmnia]

To a layman all the electro wizardry is quite impressive

[@Country_Bubba]

Hope to see at least a flow chart of the Arduino when you develop the code so we can see the "how" it works! Agree with everyone else, this makes my Sunday 😀

[@armedinbama]

I don't understand a lot of the technical jargon, but I understand the theory and desired result. That's good enough for me! 👍

[@-Jethro-]

Love these nerdy episodes…. And I like how you were able to spend a little money on hardware to save firmware effort (the frequency-to-voltage converters). In my day job of embedded systems firmware development, we do the opposite. We will spend months of coding time to save a few pennies in hardware. When you multiply pennies by millions of units, it becomes real money!

[@robotcantina8957]

Indeed, I have been to many engineering meetings where we talk about saving five cents. When I learned electronics back in the day, we were also educated in how to save money in designs.

[@JGnLAU8OAWF6]

Frequency counting is really simple to do with hardware timers though but that can interfere with Arduino usage of those timers.

[@geoffmolyneux9173]

Future Jimbo might want to experiment with adjustable fuel pump timing. But remember do not spray fuel onto the piston too far down on the stroke. As you will start to burn the top of the piston, Rings, and cylinder. Keep up the great work..

[@-ev1l562]

Doing the lords work. Id like to think this information would be vital during an apocalypse

[@mike_oe]

I had the same thought 😆

[@vwfanatic2390]

Your humor makes the geek speak palatable, and I look forward to the jingle at the end too

[@baconmcbacon62]

The jingle gets stuck in my head on the reggie.

[@sohl947]

I've been an automotive embedded systems dev, so the technical content is right up my alley. 👍

[@TheMrDarius]

I’ll have to say JB weld has a unique smell but also it works literally miracles when you’re in a pinch.

[@robotcantina8957]

JB weld is so underrated. if used properly it can save so much money!

[@stuartparker2369]

I love the tech talk as much as seeing the car run. Keep up the great work

[@MichaelRBaron]

I love this stuff. The only things I know about these electronical gizmos is what you've taught me. But it all makes sense to me. Thanks for expanding my knowledge.

[@toydoctor88]

This video has been so useful already. I can really use the frequency to voltage converter for my project. Thank so much!!!

[@robotcantina8957]

It's a cool shortcut when it come to the code, give it a shot!

[@vro1899]

I have been waiting for these past two videos when we finally make this electro-mechanical monster for quite a while, and yet i am still impressed. I have a feeling i'm gonna be regularly returning to these two for ideas and inspiration in my builds

[@allennuss5054]

I really like the mix of electronics added to the mechanical parts of this project. Helps me understand how electronics operate production vehicles.

[@johntheoldmod]

I don't understand most of how all this electronic stuff works and wish i did, but fear not I am sticking around to enjoy your efforts, and who knows I may actually learn something. Thanks for all you do .

[@robotcantina8957]

Thanks for the feedback. You are the type of person I don't want to loose, stay tuned and it will all make sense.

[@PaulThomas-qo9vy]

Jimbo, I'm mesmerized by all that intelligent sounding techno whiz-bangery you speek. I felt like I was back in the auto research lab I retired from, listening to my engineer 'splain N teach what I will be building or experimenting on for the day. Oh, the glory days....(sigh...🙂😎👍)

[@jacobhudson2755]

Electrical Engineer here! I understood all the jargon. As someone who interfaces HMI's with PLC and also writes code, this is where i nerd out. Keep em coming! 💯

[@ryandavis4863]

Gonna be another great day with Robot Cantina...stay nerdy my friends.

[@tinkerne-round4079]

A video on a regular basis at a regular time regardless of content is appreciated. You appeal to older men and older men like routine. Keep up the good work your humor and creativity is appreciated.

[@strawbemily3182]

he appeals to me too, and im a young woman! he really can appeal to anyone at all thats interested in this sorta weird stuff, does a great job making the content accessible to a wide audience

[@WellbeWelloff]

As someone who's Dad loves Star Trek, I like the reference. I like how thorough you are with your explanations, and it's impressive you can figure those things out.

[@robotcantina8957]

I appreciate that!

[@joshtriska]

The electromechanical part has been what I've been looking forward to the most since you mentioned it. Nerd onward!

[@91CavGT5]

I’m a novice inventor, former ASE certified mechanic, and nerd at heart. I don’t fully understand the technical jargon when it comes to the arduino(sp?), but I love how you explain it which makes it so even I can understand what is going on. I’ve been subscribed since early on season 1 and continue to look forward to the video drops on Sunday morning!! Thanks JimBo and keep it up!!

[@Wagonman5900]

You're an ex mechanic? What do you now? I might follow you.

[@91CavGT5]

@@Wagonman5900 I’m retired due to my health. My channel is a small one full of my projects, prepper stuff, and off the wall things ranging from serious to light hearted comedic relief. Random would be a good way to describe it.

[@finaddict72]

Great series... Keep it up. I look forward to seeing the results from every modification. Your inclusion of errors keeps the series worthy of watching.

[@LaLaLand.Germany]

I liked the Warp Nine thing, let me quote another favourite of mine:"Dreimal Wahnsinnige! Alles was drin ist, LI, alles was drin ist!!" That´s from the movie "Das Boot", the Gibralta breakthru. The Honda gets better and better, I´m glad I found Your channel.

[@robotcantina8957]

Thanks for sharing!

[@josephverdin2643]

One video to explain the groundwork of most modern diesel sensors and ecu systems. This stuff is worth watching.

[@mariobrothers8348]

Lost me from the beginning but i stayed for Jimbo's soothing voice.

[@notoioudmanboy]

This is cool man, this is why cars got ECUs and breaking it down like this makes it easier to understand more complex systems. Throttle position sensors, Cam position sensors and digital tachometers are the feedback loops of modern cars.

[@chiefpop1]

Retired after 40 years of instrumentation and controls at a big powerhouse. You Are making me nostalgic for the good old days. Enjoying the projects on your channel.

[@subynut]

As a car nerd and computer geek, I am digging the nerdy side of your car experiments! This was fun! I'm also excited to see how the engine will respond with the new "secondary" fuel control system!

[@robotcantina8957]

More to come!

[@AndreyPaiva-ed2ih]

This is absolutely amazing, sir. You built all this from scratch. Congrats!

[@m.kriddick2731]

Yea! my Sunday is complete now

[@joshuagibson2520]

But it has just started.

[@SLIMMY93]

Wait til you get that text from the old lady, her and I are pulling the trigger on a little trailer in Paw Paw. Sorry, bud!

[@Sithhy]

@@joshuagibson2520 Not everyone on the internet is american, you know

[@sumduma55]

​@@Sithhyand that's why the world sucks. Lol.. I'm just joking.

[@dvdavid888]

technical side is a ok with me I am 100% in to it when you go into depth on the technical challenges if any one doesn't comprehend it they can skip ahead

[@jpdthe3rd]

I'd love a series of longer videos on electronics and prototyping from you.

[@donakahorse]

I may not know how to do what you're doing now, but I'm still here for it.

[@usget]

I think I understood about 80% of the Arduino stuff and I would say MOAR PLZ. Enjoyable content.

[@lewistasso8866]

Great Stuff! Yes, keep the technical and mechanical stuff coming! It's all experimental, BUT I really want to see how a Honda with a Kubota with some "mech and tech" could make a car that could become a daily driver. This country could use a car people could afford that doesn't need 500 hp and MPGs in the single digits. I'm looking forward to a time in which all of this work and perfecting could produce another car with the same drivetrain. I love it! Keep it going. And yes, I could smell that horrible stuff to secure the magnets! Ugh!

[@striknein]

Watching these latest videos, I think back to the mid-late '90s when car enthusiasts started to bemoan the use of EFI and electronics to control emissions. People were complaining that they would make cars impossible for the average guy to work on, and it would make tuning impossible for enthusiasts. Now, here we are watching a guy in rural Kansas ADDING electronics to a purely mechanical diesel engine just for funsies. The future is nothing to fear.

[@robotcantina8957]

I sort of agree, however some of the modern cars are really complex with all the extra junk that's added. Perhaps in 20 years it wont be a big deal when folks figure out how to work on them... hmmmm

[@BlackCoinCrypto]

Let the pie hole flow, keep the tech shit flowing. Automation engineer here.

[@jeffschneider9516]

I really enjoyed the technical deep-dive in this episode!

[@mross302]

Keep up the great work jimbo, loving this series 😁😁😁

[@redline589]

Jimbo's a mechanical and ECU wizard, double threat mechanic :)

[@videotosse]

Excellent content. I like to hear about both the mechanical and electronic side of this project.

[@firstlast---]

I love the direction this project is going

[@curtisroberts9137]

I like the technical babel. It tickles my brain.

[@thomasknobbe4472]

Well, I for one am hooked. I am learning more about how electronic throttle controls work on a "normal" car. Looking forward to next week! Stay safe out there in Kansas, head for the basement when the locals do.

[@Southbridgehome]

I’m so happy this is coming around to being ready for the street!!!

[@TH-1207]

Loving the technical discussion stuff and your homemade Arduino ECU. 👍😁

[@f0x4nn3]

Nice to see you did add the EGT temp protection

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

I love the technical explanations, i feel like itll help loads of folks understand a bit whats going on under the hood of those expensive electronics boxes on their cars, too. Im here for the technical details. The mix of mechanicalnand electronic gadgets and doodads is why i stick around, personally 😎 excellent video this week, Jimbo!

[@arrangemonk]

i liked the arduino shenanigans

[@WarrenGarabrandt]

I love seeing the technical side of this. More please!

[@NeverEnoughRally]

I currently have 2 Arduinos in my race car doing various things. Press on with the things you like doing, we're just coming along for the ride!!!!

[@falconadv1481]

Love this stuff... Learning myself and you're great at showing the process. Entertaining and informative, pretty rare these days!

[@Salmon_Rush_Die]

Jimbo's got the gizmos.

[@802Garage]

I like the technical videos, but I'm also pretty technical myself. I think you keep it simple enough for a wide audience, but I think the way you pair demos and results with a technical talk really helps.

[@lancecluster]

Great video: You actually are making clear all of the stuff that is really difficult when working on modern cars and trucks.

[@georgehooper429]

Hey its another great episode, my Sunday morning is now complete. You did a wonderful job esplainin’ all of that technical mumbo jumbo stuff in a clear and understandable way. For some of us, pictures say more than words. What’s great about this channel is that what you are doing, any average Jimbo could do, as long as you have a 3D printer, small machine shop, mech-e background, video production tools with script writing, on-screen talent, micro electronic, and a strange knack for coding… See, any Jimbo off the street could do it too. Notice I didn’t mention the team of gnomes working the cameras, sometimes they are more trouble than not. You have pretty lofty goals with the engine control, but it is surely doable. Great job using discrete devices to keep your coding simple. It takes very little time to read a 10bit adc vs calculating pulses over time. I doubt that honda has antilock brakes but if it did, it would have all of the bits you would need to pick up road speed. I don’t think they use magnets and a hall sensor for antilock brakes, but instead a ferrous metal sensor with a spur gear. Back in the day I do remember some aftermarket cruse control that used magnets you would tie-wrap onto the drive shaft. In that case they didn’t care about actual ground speed, but just maintaining a frequency. You could do something similar with the axle shafts. You have to remember magnets are destroyed by heat and vibration. Something that little engine is known for.

[@robotcantina8957]

Thanks!. The saturn MP3 transmission we are using has a VR sensor for vehicle speed. I'll be doing the interface today so I can get the car back on the road.

[@truter5243]

Still watching. Loving the video. Remember to add a limp mode so that if one of the sensors or sub circuits fails it will set all settings to the lowest power on the motor. Before you melt it 😅 I have an unhealthy obsession with your channel. Can't wait for the next video 😅

[@robotcantina8957]

On this engine, nothing can stop it from actually running. if all the gizmos fail the car will still drive and that the best part.

[@truter5243]

@robotcantina8957 My concern is more aimed at if something fails while the circuit puts all the modules in the "high performance" position. If it fails at that stage, it might leave it at full boost and the fuel regulator needle in the max position. Might shoot your exhaust temps through the roof. I'd personally add a line of code for lost signal and just have the steppers put everything back to manufacturer spec just to be safe. Granted, I do tend to over-complicate my code 😆

[@goosenotmaverick1156]

Awwwwwww yeah, I was so early this week I had to wait for the video to drop, never happens to me! Got my coffee, got my Cantina. Sunday can now commence 😎

[@ColinSapwell]

Arrives here 11.03 pm Sunday night. East coast Australia. 😊Yep. Happy to view whatever you post. It's all learning. And answers my similarly silly thoughts of " I wonder if......" Without the frustration and cost of having to do it myself. Much appreciated.

[@TheMarine664]

Same lol

[@bryanirwin5473]

I can't wait for Jimbo to add a bit of machine learning to this project. Soon we'll have the Robot Cantina Insight Two Thousand (RCITT). 😁

[@maxr1401]

I've stated before I don't have a clue about the electronic aspect but would love to and am trying to. I'm absolutely hooked and want to advance my knowledge for my own projects. You excellently explained this stuff so most of us I think grasp the basics. This project actually has this old dog trying to learn new tricks. Keep it up and greatly appreciate it!

[@greggc8088]

I do like the tecchnical portion but it is always great to have the hope for a road test at the end to help me endure the video. Thanks for sharing and keeping me entertained on Sunday mornings Jimbo.

[@reidster87]

I really enjoyed your fuel injection experiments with Predator engines in past seasons and this Arduino engine management project scratches the same itch for me.

[@americansmark]

You are in my realm now. I have an entire tote of Arduino stuff. I wish I had more time to tinker with it. I've built some cool stuff, but always on breadboards. Never anything permanent.

[@Davide0033]

less go, my idea has been validated. jokes apart, i love technical expanation, especially because ones like this are easy to follow. you are good at explaining stuff

[@univisiontech1]

I normally glaze over when videos get too technical, but i watched this video through to the end. Easy and enjoyable to follow along, thank you for the hard work

[@IndridCool54]

Thanks for bringing some semblance of understanding of computer control to my non-tech-savvy noggin! 👍🏼👍🏼😎

[@ChrisB...]

Thumbs up for this content! Yea, I'm also pretty much addicted to microcontrollers at this point. They're like little bots you can build to make your life easier in various ways. I currently have 6 ESP32's running 24/7 in my house doing tasks I don't want to do.

[@robotcantina8957]

When you make your own stuff, its very satisfying.

[@DeadKoby]

By default, most of us think that electronically controlled engines are rocket science or completely proprietary designs. This project actually shows how far a DIY adventure can go with off the shelf things.... if you just keep thinking it through. Most "little engine in a car" experiments would not have pushed as many limits... and now you're using technology that's available to anyone to tune what may end up as a plausible commuter car. It's certainly fun to watch... and encourages many of us who like to tinker to take it up a notch.

[@donniewatson9120]

I love the smell of JB Weld in the morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Thinginator]

Love the idea of an entirely analog engine that can be tuned on the fly by an onboard computer, but still works if the computer dies. I sometimes struggle to comprehend how electronics work and how they're designed, but you explain this stuff very well. I'll happily watch more videos about it if you make them!

[@msamour]

Hi Jimbo, thanks for making this video even if it's just explaining the electronic circuits. It's rare to see a real world application for an Arduino board. Normally it's just stuff for geeks. You just combined geek and jock stuff together. That is teal talent! 😊

[@BatteriesRcool99]

This project just keeps getting more interesting! Keep up the good work 👍

[@almfreak]

Super cool progress, Jimbo! Looking forward to seeing how your homebrew computer controls perform on the first drive!

[@gkraker04]

this was great. I would take more technical deep dives than you're probably willing to do. I view it as just another step to achieve your goal. you've laid out and explained just as you would any other step. I'm here for it, and more. thanks Jimbo and crew

[@nilejuneau1972]

Good job 👍 love hearing how you make this thing work . Every sunday with a cup of coffee

[@mikeh2520]

This was good. It got me thinking about analog computing for real time processes.

[@wesleyfilips7052]

Thanks for being one of the best parts of my week!

[@fabiotiburzi]

Little suggestion: add a oxygen sensor to the exhaust and make a map based on that. A 20:1 ratio should be good for avoiding coal

[@rickgrimes4133]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain how it works. Yes the technical side is hard to understand at first glance but isn’t everything you learn in life? Love this project, and I look forward to every update. Thank you again

[@its_robbietime1333]

Bro you came in clutch I gotta go to work in like an hour

[@SpecialFX99]

I'm fine with these types of videos as long as it's occasional and not the usual. It's a bit out of my wheelhouse but I think you have a knack for making anything interesting

[@robotcantina8957]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@yooverthere]

I think you have a good balance of technical jargon. Your explanations highlighted to me the balancing act that goes into hardware/software decisions when designing and engineering parts of a car. I could imagine engineers at a meeting discussing costs and tradeoffs associated with different approaches for constructing the control system you’re making. I love your videos. Hopefully this helps more people see how and why decisions made at the design level have implications down the line to the users and maintainers of cars.

[@mariuszkaczor1379]

This channel id gold. I speak DAQ and GPIO but not Arduino. I like Iit here.

[@XFolf]

Really enjoying seeing this project evolve; making sure certain folks in my social circle see it, as fellow tinkerers.