NightShift

DIY electromechanical bicycle rear derailleur + control software project

Idea & motivation for this project is to explore and try to recreate the recent innovations in bicycle technology by combining the cheapest off-shelf bicycle derailleur (Shimano RD-TX31B) with a affordable microcontroller (Arduino Nano). Targeted total cost for final build is around 50 euros, while the commercially made systems can be bought starting from ~1100 eur.

Hardware preparation and individual component testing is mostly done in wee hours because family, hence the name "Night shift".

Short overview

The basic idea is to create a compact backbone or "shield" to connect the sub-systems and Arduino Nano together. For the clean result, the backbone/Arduino plus the battery pack are designed to be installed inside the bicycle's seat post.

About this repository

This repository has the following structure:

Semi-ordered folders of misc. build pics:

• Build pics/
  • Control buttons/
  • Hall sensor/
  • Nano-Backbone/
  • Rear derailleur related/

Schematics to build subsystems:

• Fritzing/

General materials/ideas/datasheets folder:

• Materiaali/
  • datasheets/
  • examples/

Software (arduino firmware & control software):

• Säätösofta/
  • NightShift/
  • NightShift_control/

Credits

As always, I'm standing on the shoulders of giants. There are some people & other parties involved and without you I just couldn't pull this thing off.

• My wife & the terrible three (=my lovely kids)
• Mr J.C. for kindly arranging the things in the big picture & keeping the perspective correct
• My employee (for arranging Hackathon -event & monthly funding of my hobbies via paycheck!)
• The nice guy at local electronics shop
• Internet search engine(s)