Thank you for the great ideas and suggestions!
Safety is definitely a top priority for me. I’m considering incorporating end-stop switches, a manual switch on the handlebar, and a fuse for current limiting. However, I’m still exploring ways to handle sudden loss of torque. One idea I’ve had is using a flywheel-driven brake mechanism similar to a seatbelt, but I’d love to hear any other suggestions on this.
The bike is really cool! I’ve also thought about eddy current braking. It’s appealing for its simplicity. However, I’m concerned about its limitations: no torque at 0 speed and in general a strong dependency on speed. To make it practical, I’d need a way to control the torque, likely by adjusting the magnet position based on rotation speed. Additionally, since eddy current braking only provides resistance, it would lead to one-sided exercises. Training both concentric and eccentric motions would be much better for a balanced workout.
The Makerbase XDrive looks really promising, thank you for bringing it to my attention! I’ll dive deeper into it.
On the topic of motor selection, is there a reliable way to predict how smooth or coggy a motor will be, besides simply resorting to high-pole-count models?
To handle the induced current, I’ve been considering using a lead battery as a buffer power supply. My idea is to charge it to around 12V and, if the voltage exceeds that, use a MOSFET to redirect excess energy into a resistor. The resistor might not even be necessary if the motor can burn the energy generated in step 2 during the other phases of the movement cycle. What’s your take on this approach?
Thanks again for your valuable input!