Developing an Alternative Speedometer

The project produces a different type of speedometer with separate display and control boards while being built around an AVR ATmega328 microcontroller.

The design of the board uses SMD components since they are easier and much simpler to solder than through-hole. The display board that will house the actual LED displays will be connected when the control board is finished. This includes stripping 50 tiny wires in order to connect it by soldering to each board. After all the wires are soldered up and the boards are connected, the display is plugged into the sockets on the display board.

The little wires will be used as a hinge in order to fold the boards together. Rather than creating a neat box to put the whole thing in, a simple Meccano frame was made to hold the boards. The boards will not flap around by using a little wire loop to hold the bottom of the boards together. To hold it to the windscreen frame of the vehicle, a couple of magnets are used. The speedometer normally shows the speed but alternates between showing the trip distance and maximum speed when idle for 5 seconds.

Rest of the project