Shake Phone To Start Scooter

This scooter starts right up with a shake of your Android device. This shake must be done from front-to-back, because a side-to-side shake is reserved for unlocking the saddle ([Brad] stores his helmet within).

Connectivity is facilitated over Bluetooth, with a rocker switch near the left handle bar to disable the receiver so that you don’t run down the battery. You can see the locking panel hanging open on the front portion of the scooter. Inside he installed the driver board which patches into the ignition system and drives a solenoid for the seat latch. It sounds like the latching mechanism used a bowden cable whose handle was inside that locking panel. By adding a solenoid and generously lubricating the cable he  managed to get it functioning from the driver board.

Check out the video after the break for a proper demonstration. The phone is running a Python script via SL4A, which takes care of the user interface.

14 thoughts on “Shake Phone To Start Scooter

  1. remote start on a scooter or motorcycle is the dumbest thing in the world. it would be far easier and smarter to put RFID on it and then it will only start when he is sitting on it.

    1. Lol … of course it’s dumb. But it was fun to make and scares the crap out of the neighbor kids who think it’s OK to sit on it without permission :)

      It only cost me $50 in parts from SparkFun, plus a few relays I had on hand – lots cheaper than RFID, guaranteed. I pulled off this project without having to use an MCU, it’s just a Bluetooth module with relays hooked up to it.

      There are lots of ways to trigger it. My first intention was to use the signal strength indicator on the smartphone to detect when it’s close enough and then start it – almost identical effect to the RFID. That’s in the works.

      I also already have another script that starts it using voice commands.

      Any way you trigger it, it’s only got a range of about five or ten feet from the scooter, and you’ve got to have your hand on the brake (or use a zip tie like in the video) to start it anyway.

      1. Neighbor’s pesky kid sits on bike. From a distance, you don’t notice he’s put it in gear. You start the bike. Bike moves and kid is hurt. Kid’s father sees incident, and finds out you purposely wired the bike to do so, and deliberately did that with him on it, which is entrapment.
        Next thing you realize you’d better get a lawyer, a real good one. Can’t believe you’ve put a smiley on something that could have serious consequences for both you _and_ the kid.

    1. Nope, no encryption. But after it’s been paired once, the module can be instructed not to pair with any other Bluetooth hosts again without a factory reset.

      Seems secure enough for starters, but I’m sure there are ways around it (like spoofing MAC) – My coworkers are on the case.

  2. Wow … take two Tylenol and CHILL. It’s parked happily in my garage every night.

    Did you not read it won’t work from more than 5 feet away? Did you not realize the sarcasm the smiley implied? Don’t troll me, anonymous bro!

  3. reply to Just someone:

    you must not ride. all new motorcycles and scooters have safety switches that prevent you from starting the bike unless the clutch is pulled in. my bike even has a safety switch that stops the engine if I raise the kickstand without the clutch pulled in.

    learn how a motorcycle works before you become the authority on how dangerous they are

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